Planning a trip outside of the U.S. requires a lot of preparation. You will need a passport, and maybe a Visa, you’ll plan what to bring, and cancel the newspaper and the mail. But what happens if you get sick while outside of the United States? Many people wonder will Medicare cover you for an emergency while traveling to a foreign country.
Does Medicare Cover Foreign Travel?
In most cases, Medicare will not cover you for foreign travel health emergencies. This includes cruises! Many people think if their original port is in the U.S. they are covered, but once you are in international waters, Medicare no longer covers your health care.
Does Medigap Cover Foreign Travel?
Most Medigap plans do cover foreign travel health emergencies. This is how they work:
- Separate Foreign Travel Deductible: $250
- Medigap pays 80% of foreign emergency care
- Covers up to $50,000 over a lifetime
- Emergency must happen within the 1st 60 days of the trip
Learn More about Medigap Get a Medigap Quote
Does Medicare Advantage Cover Foreign Travel?
Maybe. Don’t you love a non-answer? Let us explain. Each Medicare Advantage provider and plan can offer different coverage. So once you’ve narrowed down your plans to which ones work best for you, you can check to see which ones offer foreign emergency coverage.
Learn More about Medicare Advantage Get a MA Quote
Foreign Travel Care Option
One option is to enroll in a separate foreign travel insurance plan. These plans can cover your health care, evacuation, if your luggage is lost, and if you have to cancel a trip. The thing to remember is these plans can be expensive (up to 10% of your entire trips costs) and require certain you to be in good health at the time of purchase and at the time of travel.
Next Steps
To learn more about Medigap and Medicare Advantage foreign emergency travel coverage call one of our licensed agents at 800-930-7956.