Medicare Often Fails to Cover U.S. Citizens Traveling Overseas

Many Americans over 65 rely on Medicare health insurance, but Medicare generally does not cover health services outside the U.S. or its territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands).

The November issue of TravelSmart Newsletter reports that in rare emergencies, Medicare will pay for care in Canada or Mexico, particularly if a hospital in either country is closer to your home than the nearest U.S. hospital.

On a cruise, according to TravelSmart, Medicare coverage is limited to ships in U.S. ports or ships that are within six hours of a U.S. port.

Medicare might pay for health services you receive from a ship’s doctor if you are subsequently admitted to a U.S., Mexican or Canadian hospital for an official Medicare-covered emergency, the newsletter says.

However, the ship’s doctor must have taken care of you on board and then sent you to the hospital on the same day, for the same medical condition.