Medicare Advantage Plan Coverage. How It Works While Away From Home

If you are wondering if Medicare Advantage plan coverage works overseas or not, then stay put.  Today we will be discussing the entire topic in detail. 

For those who don't know, Medicare Advantage plans are a simple way to get both Medicare Part A and B coverage. Medicare Advantage is also known as Part C, and it’s offered by private organizations that follow Medicare rules. 

Now, the question is how these Advantage plans work for overseas travel. Let's find out:

How Does Medicare Part C/Medicare Advantage Plan Work? 

Medicare Part C is provided by several private insurance companies with their own standards for premiums, sharing, costs, and benefits. It consists of all the benefits of Original Medicare, plus they can include any other benefits. 

This includes dental care, gym memberships, and routine eye examination. Put simply, the benefits could be the same or more than the Original Medicare. 

Does Medicare Offer Coverage If You Are Traveling Overseas?

The Original Medicare does not cover any emergency care if you are traveling overseas. However, there are certain expectations.

For example, if you are in the US and you need urgent treatment, the nearest hospital where you can be treated is in another country. In such situations, Medicare can cover the expenses.

It's also applicable if you are traveling on a cruise ship in US territory, and the ship is 6 hours away from the port. Likewise, if you are traveling through Canada on a direct route to Alaska, Medicare will cover your treatment expenses if a Canadian hospital is nearer than the US one. 

Does Medicare Advantage Plan Cover the US Overseas Treatment Expense? 

Some Medicare Advantage plans may cover additional medical services or routine checkups outside the US. So, it's best to research the Medicare Advantage plans and ask them about the benefits related to the same. 

In several cases, there is a limit on how many overseas travel benefits you can get. You may also have to pay the required cost/expense in advance and get the reimbursement by the Advantage plan later. 

Meanwhile, you should learn about some simple ways to stay healthy too. That will keep any of your overseas medical requirements at bay.  

What's the Process to Get the Medicare Benefits, If You Are Traveling Overseas?

If you want to access medical benefits while traveling overseas, then you might have to enroll for Original Medicare with supplement plans. This includes Plan C, D,E,F,G,H,I,J,M, and N. 

All these plans will cover most health care services (80%) that you may need while traveling. It will be applicable once you meet the plan deductible for overseas travel. 

Note that these expenses should happen within the first 60 days of the trip. It also should not be covered by the Original Medicare. Also, there is a limit of $50,000 on foreign travel care benefits. 

Remember that the supplement plans are associated with the Original Medicare. This means that if you want to access these plans with a Medicare Advantage plan, it wouldn't be possible. 

If you want to know about the benefits and other details related to overseas travel, then take a quick look at the plan brochure.

Frequently Asked Questions