On Medicare and headed out of town? What to know before a medical emergency hits
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If you're over 65 and packing for summer travel, health coverage may not be on your checklist—but it should be.
Medicare doesn’t always follow you the way your luggage does.
In fact, many retirees wrongly assume they’re covered everywhere, including internationally.
But when illness strikes on a cruise or overseas, the financial fallout can be severe.
Even domestic trips require advance planning. Traditional Medicare covers care anywhere in the US, but not every provider accepts it.
Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans each come with their own travel restrictions. And some vacationers are shocked to discover that their plan offers little to no support once they leave the country.
Medicare generally excludes care outside the US, with just a few exceptions. You may be covered if a Canadian hospital is closer in an emergency, or if you're on a cruise within six hours of a US port.
But for most foreign trips, the costs are on you. A 2024 eHealth survey found that 64% of beneficiaries wrongly believed Medicare covered international medical care.
“Most people with Medicare do not fully understand how their coverage works when traveling,” said Ryan Ramsey, associate director of health coverage and benefits at the National Council on Aging.
The solution: learn your options before you go. From enhanced Advantage plans to travel-specific policies, coverage is available—but it takes a little work.
Below are four ways to protect your health (and your wallet) while traveling on Medicare.
Some Medicare Advantage plans offer emergency care outside your home region or even overseas. PPO-style plans may let you go out of network, but you'll usually pay more for doing so.
HMO plans typically restrict coverage to your network area, unless it's a true emergency. UnitedHealth’s “passport” program is one example, offering in-network rates in select US counties.
Coverage varies by plan, so check before booking. National insurers are more likely to offer broad provider networks across states.
You can use Medicare’s online comparison tool to find doctors who accept your plan. Always carry your insurance card, and know your plan’s rules on urgent care and ER visits.
Certain Medigap policies can help, especially when traveling abroad. Plans C, D, F, G, M and N cover 80% of international emergency costs, with a $250 deductible and a $50,000 lifetime cap.
Also read: Primary Insurance falling short? Here’s why secondary coverage might be your best move
Plans C and F are no longer available to new enrollees after 2020, making G and N the go-to options. Medigap doesn’t cover routine care abroad—only emergencies.
You’ll likely have to pay out of pocket and seek reimbursement later. “We had a client who had a health situation while traveling in China and came back with all these receipts in Chinese,” said Diane Omdahl of 65 Incorporated.
“He put them in an envelope to his Medicare supplement company and about a month and a half later got reimbursed.” Be sure to keep all receipts and documentation.
High-end travel credit cards may provide limited medical coverage. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite include medical evacuation and emergency assistance, often with $100,000 limits.
These perks are only valid if you use the card to pay for the trip. That said, restrictions apply—including trip length, activity type, and pre-existing conditions.
Many cards exclude extreme sports or medical tourism. Coverage typically requires the trip to last a minimum of five days.
For short or spontaneous getaways, this can be a dealbreaker. If you're relying on your credit card for coverage, read the fine print carefully.
Travel insurance can be purchased from independent companies like InsureMyTrip, Squaremouth, or Travel Guard.
Also read: Hidden gaps in health insurance networks are hurting patients—but improvements have yet to show results
These policies may include medical, evacuation, trip cancellation, and lost luggage protection. Comprehensive plans generally cost 4% to 10% of your trip’s value.
A basic medical-only plan may be enough if you're skipping the cruise or tour group.
“Many cruises have a package that includes travel insurance,” said Omdahl. “It’s not always the most cost-effective way to go, but just try to get out of it.”
Squaremouth recommends at least $50,000 in medical and $100,000 in evacuation coverage. Make sure to check for exclusions around pre-existing conditions or risky activities like mountaineering or scuba diving.
Read next: How much emergency savings is enough? Experts say this number is growing—and here’s how to prepare
Going on a trip soon? Call your provider or insurer now and ask: What happens if I get sick on the road? If you’ve had any surprises—good or bad—with travel medical coverage, drop your story in the comments below. Your experience might save someone else's vacation.
Medicare doesn’t always follow you the way your luggage does.
In fact, many retirees wrongly assume they’re covered everywhere, including internationally.
But when illness strikes on a cruise or overseas, the financial fallout can be severe.
Even domestic trips require advance planning. Traditional Medicare covers care anywhere in the US, but not every provider accepts it.
Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans each come with their own travel restrictions. And some vacationers are shocked to discover that their plan offers little to no support once they leave the country.
Medicare generally excludes care outside the US, with just a few exceptions. You may be covered if a Canadian hospital is closer in an emergency, or if you're on a cruise within six hours of a US port.
But for most foreign trips, the costs are on you. A 2024 eHealth survey found that 64% of beneficiaries wrongly believed Medicare covered international medical care.
“Most people with Medicare do not fully understand how their coverage works when traveling,” said Ryan Ramsey, associate director of health coverage and benefits at the National Council on Aging.
The solution: learn your options before you go. From enhanced Advantage plans to travel-specific policies, coverage is available—but it takes a little work.
Below are four ways to protect your health (and your wallet) while traveling on Medicare.
Some Medicare Advantage plans offer emergency care outside your home region or even overseas. PPO-style plans may let you go out of network, but you'll usually pay more for doing so.
HMO plans typically restrict coverage to your network area, unless it's a true emergency. UnitedHealth’s “passport” program is one example, offering in-network rates in select US counties.
Coverage varies by plan, so check before booking. National insurers are more likely to offer broad provider networks across states.
You can use Medicare’s online comparison tool to find doctors who accept your plan. Always carry your insurance card, and know your plan’s rules on urgent care and ER visits.
Certain Medigap policies can help, especially when traveling abroad. Plans C, D, F, G, M and N cover 80% of international emergency costs, with a $250 deductible and a $50,000 lifetime cap.
Also read: Primary Insurance falling short? Here’s why secondary coverage might be your best move
Plans C and F are no longer available to new enrollees after 2020, making G and N the go-to options. Medigap doesn’t cover routine care abroad—only emergencies.
You’ll likely have to pay out of pocket and seek reimbursement later. “We had a client who had a health situation while traveling in China and came back with all these receipts in Chinese,” said Diane Omdahl of 65 Incorporated.
“He put them in an envelope to his Medicare supplement company and about a month and a half later got reimbursed.” Be sure to keep all receipts and documentation.
High-end travel credit cards may provide limited medical coverage. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite include medical evacuation and emergency assistance, often with $100,000 limits.
These perks are only valid if you use the card to pay for the trip. That said, restrictions apply—including trip length, activity type, and pre-existing conditions.
Many cards exclude extreme sports or medical tourism. Coverage typically requires the trip to last a minimum of five days.
For short or spontaneous getaways, this can be a dealbreaker. If you're relying on your credit card for coverage, read the fine print carefully.
Travel insurance can be purchased from independent companies like InsureMyTrip, Squaremouth, or Travel Guard.
Also read: Hidden gaps in health insurance networks are hurting patients—but improvements have yet to show results
These policies may include medical, evacuation, trip cancellation, and lost luggage protection. Comprehensive plans generally cost 4% to 10% of your trip’s value.
A basic medical-only plan may be enough if you're skipping the cruise or tour group.
“Many cruises have a package that includes travel insurance,” said Omdahl. “It’s not always the most cost-effective way to go, but just try to get out of it.”
Squaremouth recommends at least $50,000 in medical and $100,000 in evacuation coverage. Make sure to check for exclusions around pre-existing conditions or risky activities like mountaineering or scuba diving.
Read next: How much emergency savings is enough? Experts say this number is growing—and here’s how to prepare
