Understanding Medicare travel coverage is essential for protecting yourself while traveling abroad.
Whether you’re taking a short vacation, traveling on business, visiting relatives, or actually living abroad as a U.S. expat or missionary, you should understand your coverage options as a Medicare beneficiary.
This article explores:
- Medicare’s foreign travel benefits
- The role of Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) in providing coverage abroad
- How Medicare Advantage compares
- The Medi-Share 65+ non-insurance Medigap alternative
- The importance of private travel insurance when traveling abroad
Original Medicare’s Limited Foreign Travel Benefits
Medicare travel coverage under Original Medicare (Parts A and B) is extremely limited outside the U.S.
Covered regions include:
- The 50 U.S. States and the District of Columbia
- Puerto Rico
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Guam
- American Samoa
- The Northern Mariana Islands
Outside of these areas Original Medicare (Parts A and B) by itself provides little to no coverage. So unless you own your own private plan, over and above your Original Medicare coverage, you will be almost completely unprotected while outside the U.S.
In fact, there are only a few specific circumstances where Original Medicare will cover foreign care at all:
- Emergency Treatment in Transit. Medicare may cover care if you’re traveling through Canada between Alaska and another U.S. state and a Canadian hospital is closer than a U.S. hospital.
- Onboard a Ship. Care provided aboard a ship within U.S. territorial waters may be covered, but not once the ship is more than six hours from a U.S. port.
- Nearby Foreign Hospital. Medicare may cover care if you’re in the U.S., and the nearest hospital capable of treating you is across the border.
Beyond these narrow exceptions, Original Medicare beneficiaries who don’t have other private coverage or the Medi-Share 65+ health sharing plan (see below) are responsible for all medical costs incurred abroad.
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Medigap Foreign Travel Coverage
Medigap, or Medicare supplement Insurance, is designed to fill the gaps in Original Medicare coverage.
How Medigap Travel Coverage Works:
- Eligible Plans: Medigap Plans C, D, F, G, M, and N provide foreign travel emergency benefits.
- What’s Covered: These plans cover 80% of emergency medical care costs incurred during the first 60 days of a trip outside the U.S. after you meet a $250 deductible.
- Lifetime Limit: There is a lifetime coverage limit of $50,000.
- Eligibility Requirements. Care must qualify as an emergency and begin within the first 60 days of your trip. Routine care and pre-planned procedures are not covered.
Medigap plans can significantly reduce your financial risk when traveling abroad, but it’s essential to understand the limits of this coverage.
How to Enroll in Medigap for Travel Coverage
You can buy Medigap insurance at any time by contacting a Medigap Advisors Personal Benefits Manager.
However, if you are outside of your initial enrollment period (the six months after you become eligible for and enroll in Medicare Part B), you will have to pass medical underwriting to be approved.
Medicare Advantage and Travel Coverage
Medicare Advantage plans (offered by private insurers) sometimes include Medicare travel coverage, but benefits vary widely.
A few plans offer limited overseas coverage, but these benefits vary widely:
- Emergency Care. Some Medicare Advantage plans cover emergency care abroad, similar to Medigap’s foreign travel benefits. However, with these plans, you may have to pay for medical services upfront, out of your own resources, and apply for reimbursement later.
- Additional Benefits. Certain plans may include services like telehealth consultations while overseas.
- Network Restrictions. Unlike Medigap, Medicare Advantage plans typically require you to use a network of providers, which can complicate coverage abroad.
- Residency/domicile requirements. If you live outside your Medicare Advantage plan’s coverage area for more than six months, you’ll normally be automatically disenrolled from your plan.
- Emergency Care Only. Medicare Advantage Plans that include coverage for emergency care outside the U.S. typically will not cover follow-up care.
If you’re considering Medicare Advantage and plan to travel extensively, be sure to review each plan’s foreign travel policies carefully.
Medi-Share 65+ and Overseas Missionary Benefits
Medi-Share 65+ is a health-sharing plan that offers unique benefits for foreign travel.
Unlike traditional insurance, Medi-Share is a faith-based health-sharing program where members pool resources to cover eligible medical expenses.
- Foreign Travel Coverage. Medi-Share 65+ helps share costs for medically necessary expenses incurred overseas, making it a popular choice among missionaries and long-term travelers.
- Higher Lifetime Cap. Medi-Share 65+ will share up to $150,000 in costs for care outside the U.S. and its territories. This is a much greater benefit than the Medigap cap of $50,000.
- Flexibility. Coverage includes both emergency and non-emergency care abroad, providing broader access to services than Medigap or Medicare Advantage in some cases.
- Community Support. The program’s faith-based model fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility among members.
However, it’s important to note that Medi-Share 65+ is not insurance. It’s not structured or regulated as a health insurance product. Instead, it’s a voluntary non-profit association of like-minded Christians who agree to help share the unexpected medical expenses of fellow members.
Under Medi-Share 65+, you are responsible for the first $500 in Medicare Part A- and B-approved costs for your household per year. The plan shares 100% of all those costs above that.
You should read the MediShare 65+ membership guidelines and understand the specifics before you travel.
Medi-Share 65+ vs. Medigap Foreign Travel Benefits At a Glance
| Medi-Share 65+ | Medigap | |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Travel | Covers medically necessary care outside the U.S. | Only plans C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, M or N. |
| Benefit cap | $150,000 maximum lifetime sharing benefit | $50,000 maximum lifetime benefit |
| Coinsurance | You pay 20% of covered charges, until the plan shares $150,000 in expenses. You then pay 100% over that cap. | You pay 20% of covered charges, and 100% over the cap. |
| Time limit | No time limit. | Only pays for care received during the first 60 days of your trip. |
| Max out-of-pocket exposure for benefits covered under Original Medicare. | Normally $500 per year per household | Plan G pays all expenses except for your annual Part B Deductible ($257 as of 2025). |
Medi-Share 65+ Limitations, Requirements, and Restrictions
Prescription Drugs
Medi-Share 65+, like Medigap plans, does not include prescription drug coverage.
However, members have the option to purchase a standalone Medicare Part D plan to pay for their prescription needs. For those who primarily use generic medications, Medi-Share 65+ offers a robust discount program to significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Additionally, members can take advantage of savings programs like GoodRx or the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company to lower prescription expenses.
For individuals who require frequent access to higher-cost, brand-name medications, enrolling in a Medicare Part D plan is highly recommended to ensure comprehensive coverage.
Exclusions
Medi-Share 65+ also excludes cost-sharing for certain situations, including:
- Suicides or attempted suicides
- Self-inflicted injuries
- Overdoses and injuries caused by alcohol or illegal drugs
- Addiction treatments
- Mental health care
- Injuries resulting from reckless or high-risk activities
- Injuries related to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, even as a passenger
Members of Medi-Share 65+ are also required to commit to a lifestyle that aligns with Biblical principles and Christian values, as part of the program’s faith-based mission.
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Private Travel Insurance for Medicare Beneficiaries
For extended trips or those without Medigap or Medi-Share 65+, private travel insurance can fill in the gaps.
Specifics vary by carrier and plan. But in most cases, travel insurance plans cover:
- Comprehensive Coverage. Emergency medical care, evacuation, and repatriation benefits while traveling abroad
- Trip Protection. Coverage for trip cancellations, lost luggage, and delays
- Flexibility. Many travel insurance policies can be tailored to include coverage for pre-existing conditions
Private travel insurance is especially important for long-term travelers or those planning to engage in high-risk activities. In some cases, you won’t be granted a visa to enter a foreign country unless you have proof of travel insurance.
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Choosing the Right Medicare Travel Coverage
Navigating healthcare options for foreign travel can be challenging.
This is especially true given the varying benefits offered by Original Medicare, Medigap, Medicare Advantage, and alternative plans like Medi-Share 65+.
Choosing the right plan depends on your travel habits, healthcare needs, and financial situation.
That’s where one of our experienced Medigap Advisors Personal Benefits Managers can help. We can walk you through your travel plans, including your location and planned length of stay, and help you make sure you’ll have the coverage you need while you’re abroad.
What To Do Now
If you’re planning to travel abroad, don’t leave your healthcare to chance.
Schedule a free consultation with a MedigapAdvisors Personal Benefits Manager today. They can help you find a plan that meets your needs and ensures you’re protected no matter where your travels take you. Contact us now for personalized recommendations and quotes.
For Further Reading:
Tom Lockwood is a Personal Benefits Manager at MediGap Advisors. Tom has a passion for bringing clarity to those confused about Medicare. He is an authority on Medicare, Medicare supplement plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and Part D prescription drug plans. Read more about Tom on his Bio page.