In short
- Original Medicare covers you anywhere in the U.S. with providers who accept Medicare, including Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Medicare Advantage covers emergency and urgent care anywhere in the U.S., but routine care often must stay in network.
- If you're out of your Medicare Advantage plan's area for more than 6 months, the plan must disenroll you unless it offers a visitor or travel benefit.
- Medicare generally doesn't cover care outside the U.S. Medigap Plans C, D, F, G, M and N pay 80% of emergency care abroad after a $250 yearly deductible.
- Medicare drug plans don't cover prescriptions you buy outside the U.S., so pack enough medication.
Plenty of Nebraskans split the year: winters somewhere warm, summers back home near family. Others take one big trip a year, or visit kids in another state for weeks at a time. How well Medicare travels depends on which kind of Medicare you have and where you're going.
Does Medicare work when you travel in the U.S.?
Yes, but the rules depend on your coverage.
- Original Medicare (Parts A and B) works with any doctor, clinic or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. A clinic in Phoenix or a hospital in Florida bills Medicare the same way Bryan Health or CHI Health does here.
- A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) follows Original Medicare. If Medicare pays its share, your Medigap pays its share, anywhere in the country.
- Medicare Advantage plans have to cover emergency and urgently needed care anywhere in the U.S. Routine care, like a checkup, physical therapy or a specialist visit, usually has to stay in the plan's network. PPO plans may pay out of network at a higher cost. HMO plans generally don't, except in emergencies.
For Medicare's purposes, "the U.S." includes the 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.
| Coverage | Routine care in another state | Emergency or urgent care in another state | Care outside the U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Medicare only | Covered with providers who accept Medicare | Covered | Generally not covered |
| Original Medicare plus Medigap | Covered; Medigap pays its share | Covered | Plans C, D, F, G, M, N: 80% of emergencies after $250 deductible |
| Medicare Advantage HMO | Usually not covered out of network | Covered | Generally not covered; some plans add a travel benefit |
| Medicare Advantage PPO | Covered at out-of-network cost | Covered | Generally not covered; some plans add a travel benefit |
Our comparison of Medicare Advantage HMO vs PPO explains networks in more detail.
What's the 6-month rule for snowbirds?
If you leave your Medicare Advantage plan's service area for more than 6 months in a row, the plan must disenroll you. That comes from federal rule 42 CFR 422.74. There's one exception: if the plan offers a visitor or travel benefit for members who are away but still in the U.S., it can keep you enrolled for up to 12 months.
Even under 6 months, a long winter away on an HMO can mean months of routine care that isn't covered. That is why many snowbirds choose Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement. It works the same in both homes, and there's no network to worry about.
Medicare Advantage can still work for part-year travelers, especially with a PPO or a plan that has a visitor benefit. Ask the plan directly how it treats members who spend part of the year in another state, and get the answer in writing. Plans, networks and benefits vary by county and change every year. Our side-by-side of Medigap vs Medicare Advantage covers the rest of that trade-off.
Does Medicare cover you outside the U.S.?
Generally no. Medicare.gov says that in most cases, you pay all the costs for care outside the U.S. There are a few narrow exceptions where Original Medicare may pay for inpatient care at a foreign hospital:
- You're in the U.S. when an emergency happens, and a foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat you.
- You're traveling through Canada by the most direct route between Alaska and another state, an emergency happens, and the Canadian hospital is closer.
- You live in the U.S. and a foreign hospital is closer to your home than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your condition.
Part B may also cover medically necessary care on a cruise ship if the doctor is allowed to treat patients on the ship and the ship is in a U.S. port, or no more than 6 hours from one.
Medicare drug plans don't cover prescriptions bought outside the U.S.
How do you cover a trip overseas?
You have three main options, and many travelers combine them.
- Medigap foreign travel coverage. Plans C, D, F, G, M and N pay 80% of emergency care outside the U.S., up to plan limits, after a separate $250 yearly deductible. Plans A, B, K and L don't include it.
- A Medicare Advantage travel benefit. Some plans add coverage for emergency and urgently needed care abroad. It's an extra, not a guarantee, so check the Evidence of Coverage.
- Travel medical insurance. A short-term policy for the trip can cover costs Medicare and Medigap don't. Read what it covers and what it excludes before you buy.
Military retirees have one more piece. TRICARE For Life pays first for covered care overseas, where Medicare doesn't pay. Our Medicare for veterans guide explains how that works.
How do you handle prescriptions on the road?
Plan ahead, because Part D doesn't travel abroad and some pharmacies away from home may be out of network.
- Ask your plan about an early refill or an extra supply before a long trip.
- Use mail order to a winter address if your plan allows it.
- Check that a pharmacy near your winter home is in your plan's network.
- Carry medications in your carry-on, in their original bottles, with a printed list.
- If you're going abroad, bring enough for the whole trip, plus a few days.
Can you see your doctor by telehealth while you travel?
Yes, while you're in the U.S. Medicare's telehealth flexibilities run through December 31, 2027, so you can have a covered telehealth visit from anywhere in the U.S., including a rental condo in another state. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), usually the same as an in-person visit. Telehealth from outside the U.S. isn't covered.
Where can you get help planning?
Before a long trip or a winter away, call your plan, check Medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (TTY 1-877-486-2048). Nebraska SHIP offers unbiased counseling at 1-800-234-7119. Our guide to what Medicare doesn't cover lists the other gaps to plan around. If you split your year between two homes and want to compare which setup fits, talk to me.
Frequently asked questions
Original Medicare does, with any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. A Medicare Supplement goes with it. Medicare Advantage plans must cover emergency and urgently needed care anywhere in the U.S., but routine visits usually have to be in the plan's network. PPO plans may cover out-of-network care at a higher cost, and HMO plans usually don't.
Generally no. Original Medicare covers care in a foreign country only in narrow cases, such as an emergency while you're in the U.S. when a Canadian or Mexican hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital, or while driving the direct route between Alaska and another state through Canada. For trips abroad, a Medigap plan with foreign travel coverage or separate travel insurance fills the gap.
Maybe. If you leave your plan's service area for more than 6 months in a row, federal rules require the plan to disenroll you unless it offers a visitor or travel benefit, which can extend the limit to 12 months. Even within 6 months, routine care away from home may be out of network. Ask the plan how it handles members who live part of the year elsewhere.
Plans C, D, F, G, M and N cover 80% of the cost of emergency care outside the U.S., up to plan limits. You pay a separate $250 yearly deductible for foreign travel emergency care first. Plans A, B, K and L don't include this benefit. It covers emergencies, not planned treatment abroad, so check the policy before an overseas trip.
In the U.S., yes, at pharmacies in your plan's network, so check that pharmacies where you'll be staying are in network. Ask your plan about getting an early refill or extra supply before a long trip. Medicare drug plans don't cover prescriptions you buy outside the U.S., so bring enough medication from home and keep it in your carry-on.
Yes, while you're in the U.S. Medicare's telehealth flexibilities are extended through December 31, 2027, so you can get covered telehealth services from any location in the U.S., including your home or a winter rental. You generally pay the same 20% coinsurance after the Part B deductible as for an in-person visit. Medicare Advantage plans may offer more telehealth benefits.
Sources
- Medicare.gov: Travel outside the U.S. (opens in a new tab)
- Medicare & You 2027 handbook (CMS Product No. 10050) (opens in a new tab)
- Medicare.gov: Choosing a Medigap Policy (CMS Product No. 02110) (opens in a new tab)
- eCFR: 42 CFR 422.74, disenrollment by the MA organization (opens in a new tab)
- CMS: Medicare telehealth FAQ (updated Feb 26, 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- TRICARE: TRICARE For Life (opens in a new tab)
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
