Most Medicare Advantage plans do not cover medical care outside the United States

Medicare Advantage plans are required to cover emergency care anywhere in the world, but routine medical visits, prescriptions, and planned procedures outside the U.S. are almost never included. If you travel internationally and need a doctor's visit, hospital stay, or prescription filled abroad, you will likely pay the full cost out of pocket unless your plan has a specific international rider or you purchase separate travel insurance.

The one exception is emergency care. If you have a sudden, life-threatening condition while traveling — a heart attack, severe injury, or acute infection — your Medicare Advantage plan must cover emergency stabilization at any hospital worldwide. However, this coverage is limited to making you stable enough to return home; it does not cover ongoing treatment or follow-up care once you are back in the U.S.

Key Takeaways

  • Emergency medical care is covered by all Medicare Advantage plans worldwide, but routine care, prescriptions, and planned procedures are not.
  • A small number of plans offer optional international coverage riders that extend benefits to specific countries or regions for an additional monthly cost.
  • Travel medical insurance purchased separately from your plan can cover routine doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription refills abroad.
  • Before traveling, contact your plan directly to confirm what emergency services are covered and what documentation you will need to file a claim.
  • Keep all receipts and medical records from any care received outside the U.S., as you will need them to submit a claim to your plan.

Plans that offer international coverage riders

A handful of Medicare Advantage insurers sell optional add-ons that extend coverage to other countries. These are not standard benefits — you must purchase them separately, and they come with monthly costs that vary by plan and insurer. The coverage is usually limited to a specific list of countries or regions, and it may exclude certain types of care or have higher out-of-pocket costs than your U.S. coverage.

UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Anthem have offered international riders in some states, but availability changes year to year and by geographic region. If international travel is important to you, ask your plan's customer service whether an international rider is available in your area, what countries it covers, what the monthly cost is, and whether it covers routine care or only emergencies.

These riders typically cover doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription refills in the countries listed. Some plans cap the number of days you can spend abroad per year, or limit coverage to a certain dollar amount. Read the plan documents carefully before purchasing, because the restrictions vary widely.

How to find out what your current plan covers abroad

Call your Medicare Advantage plan's customer service number — it is on your insurance card — and ask specifically: "What medical care is covered if I travel outside the United States?" Write down the answer, including whether emergency care is covered, what countries are included (if any), and what you need to do to file a claim.

Ask for the plan's international coverage policy in writing, either by mail or email. This document will spell out exactly what is and is not covered, what you have to pay, and how to submit a claim from abroad. Having it in writing protects you if there is a dispute later about what you were told.

Also ask whether your plan has a 24-hour international information line you can call if you need emergency care while traveling. Many plans provide this service at no extra cost, and the line can help you find a hospital, arrange translation services, and guide you through the claim process.

Travel medical insurance as an alternative

If your Medicare Advantage plan does not cover international care and you do not want to buy a rider, you can purchase a separate travel medical insurance policy. These policies are sold by travel companies, insurance brokers, and some credit card companies, and they cover routine doctor visits, hospital care, and prescription refills in most countries worldwide.

Travel medical insurance is usually inexpensive — often $100 to $300 for a two-week trip — and it covers both emergencies and routine care. However, it does not replace your Medicare Advantage plan; it works alongside it. You will still be responsible for any costs your plan does not cover, and you will need to file claims with both your plan and your travel insurance.

When shopping for travel insurance, look for a policy that covers pre-existing conditions (if you have any), has a high enough medical limit for your destination, and covers evacuation back to the U.S. if needed. Read the exclusions carefully, because some policies do not cover care related to conditions you had before you bought the policy.

What to do if you need medical care while traveling

If you need a doctor's visit or hospital care abroad, ask the provider for an itemized receipt and medical records in English. Keep these documents — you will need them to file a claim with your plan or travel insurance when you return home.

If you have a 24-hour international information line through your plan, call it before seeking care if possible. The line can help you find a provider in your plan's network (if one exists in that country), arrange payment directly with the hospital, and make sure the care will be covered.

Pay for the care out of pocket at the time of service, unless the provider agrees to bill your plan directly. Most international providers do not have agreements with U.S. insurance companies and will not wait for insurance to process a claim. After you return home, submit your receipts and medical records to your plan or travel insurance company to request reimbursement.

Countries with better Medicare Advantage coverage

A few countries have agreements with some U.S. Medicare Advantage plans, which means those plans may cover routine care there. Mexico and Canada are the most common, because they are close to the U.S. and have many American retirees. Some plans also have limited coverage in the Caribbean.

If you plan to spend extended time in one of these countries, ask your plan whether it has a coverage agreement there. Even if it does, the coverage may be limited to emergency care or may require you to use specific providers. Do not assume your plan covers care in Mexico or Canada without confirming directly with your plan.

Planning ahead for international travel

If you travel internationally more than once a year or for more than a few weeks at a time, consider switching to a Medicare Advantage plan that offers an international rider, or budget for travel medical insurance as a regular expense. Both options are cheaper than paying out of pocket for a serious illness or injury abroad.

Before you book a trip, contact your plan to confirm coverage, ask about the international information line, and request the coverage policy in writing. If your plan does not cover the countries you plan to visit, get a quote for travel medical insurance and factor that into your trip budget.

Tell your doctor you are traveling and ask whether you need any vaccinations, medications, or medical records to bring with you. Carry a copy of your insurance card, your plan's international information phone number, and a list of any medications you take — in case you need to refill a prescription abroad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Medicare Advantage cover an emergency surgery I need while traveling in Europe?

Yes, emergency surgery is covered by all Medicare Advantage plans worldwide. Your plan will cover the cost of stabilizing surgery and hospital care needed to treat the emergency. However, you will pay out of pocket at the time of service and then file a claim with your plan when you return home. Keep all receipts and medical records to submit with your claim.

Can I use my Medicare Advantage plan to see a doctor in Mexico?

Some plans have coverage agreements in Mexico, but most do not cover routine care there. Contact your plan to ask whether it covers medical visits in Mexico. If it does not, you can purchase travel medical insurance or pay out of pocket and file a claim for reimbursement when you return home.

What happens if I need to refill a prescription while traveling abroad?

Your Medicare Advantage plan will not cover a prescription filled outside the U.S. You will pay the full cost out of pocket. Before traveling, ask your doctor for a written prescription (not just a refill authorization) that you can take with you, in case you need to fill it at a pharmacy abroad. Some countries require a local doctor's prescription, so ask your plan or travel insurance company what the rules are in your destination.

Is travel medical insurance worth buying if I only travel for two weeks?

Travel medical insurance is usually inexpensive for short trips — often $100 to $200 for two weeks — and covers routine care that your Medicare Advantage plan will not. If you think there is any chance you will need a doctor's visit, it is worth buying. If you are in excellent health and confident you will not need care, you can skip it and pay out of pocket if something happens.

Do I need to tell my Medicare Advantage plan before I travel?

You do not have to notify your plan before traveling, but it is a good idea to call ahead and confirm what is covered, get the international information phone number, and request the coverage policy in writing. This way you will know exactly what to expect if you need care while abroad.