Travel Coverage

Does Medicare Cover Cost of Medical Assistance Outside of The United States?

Typically Medicare does not cover medical expenses incurred outside of the United States. The United States includes the fifty states as well as American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is advised that while traveling outside of the these areas you take into consideration events that may need medical insurance coverage and plan ahead for them. There are some exceptions.

In some cases, Medicare will pay for inpatient hospital service costs from Canada and Mexico. Medicare will only pay for services under these circumstances:

A Canadian or Mexican hospital is geographically closer to you then a U.S. hospital in the event of an emergency that occurs inside of the U.S.
You are traveling through Canada without reasonable delay by the most direct route between Alaska and another state when a medical emergency occurs and a Canadian hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat the emergency.
You reside in the U.S. and the closest hospital that can treat your medical condition is located in Canada or Mexico regardless of whether an emergency exists.

In addition Medicare pays for ambulance and doctor services associated with a covered inpatient hospital stay in Canada and Mexico.

How Much Do You Pay?

You pay what you would normally pay under Medicare Part A. Health care services are not covered outside the U.S. except under these limited circumstances. You must pay a $135 deductible for any Medicare Part B services and supplies before Medicare begins to pay its share. If a doctor, health care provider, or supplier does not accept assignment, the amount you pay may be higher.

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