Medicare is a federal health insurance program that covers the cost of hospital care (Part A) and doctor visits (Part B) for adults age 65 and older, people with disabilities, and people with certain medical conditions. Medicare Parts A and B are referred to as original Medicare.

Other parts of Medicare include Part D (prescription drug coverage) and Part C (Medicare Advantage), which is an alternative way to get your original Medicare (and often your Part D coverage) in one plan. Medicare Part D and Part C are offered through private health insurance companies. To enroll in these plans, you must already be enrolled in original Medicare. Eligible older adults can sign up for Medicare health and drug plans during the Open Enrollment Period, which runs from Oct. 15-Dec. 7 each year.

Can you use Medicare anywhere in the U.S.?

One thing many older adults wonder is whether their Medicare benefits are portable. If you travel often within the U.S., you should know original Medicare covers hospital care and doctor visits in all 50 U.S. states as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico; the U.S. Virgin Islands; Guam; American Samoa; and the Northern Mariana Islands. There are no network restrictions; you can see any provider that accepts Medicare.

What about Medicare Advantage? The issue of coverage area isn't as straightforward. Certain Medicare Advantage plans do provide state-to-state coverage, including a national pharmacy network that allows you to pick up your prescription medications at locations across the country. However, other Medicare Advantage plans may not cover care outside of their defined service area—or they may impose higher cost-sharing or prior-authorization rules for out-of-network care.

Note: Both original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans are required to cover emergency and urgent care anywhere in the U.S. without additional restrictions or out-of-pocket costs.

Will you be spending a large amount of time at a second home, with family, or at a long-term vacation rental? If you have an Medicare Advantage plan, be sure you understand its rules before heading out on an extended stay. This is because:

Does Medicare cover international travel?

Original Medicare usually does not cover health care you receive while traveling outside of the United States and its territories, except in very specific emergency situations. In these scenarios below, Medicare pays only for its share of Part A and Part B covered services.:

Medicare Advantage plans must cover, at a minimum, everything original Medicare covers. As a result, your plan will usually cover international travel in the instances outlined above. Some Medicare Advantage plans also offer additional benefits for emergency care and urgent care services during foreign travel. Keep in mind that this coverage is generally meant for unexpected situations, not for routine health care visits while you are abroad.

You may get disenrolled from your Medicare Advantage plan and returned to original Medicare if you travel outside the U.S. for more than six months. Medicare Advantage coverage and rules vary from plan to plan—so be sure to check with your plan provider before traveling outside the country. They can tell you whether your plan offers emergency travel benefits and how claims or reimbursement are handled.

What about coverage for prescription medications when you're traveling abroad? Whether you have a standalone drug plan or get coverage through your Medicare Advantage plan, Part D won't cover prescriptions you get outside the United States. If you have to buy medication from an international pharmacy, you should expect to pay 100% of the cost out of pocket.

What about Medigap? Are Medigap plans accepted everywhere?

Sold by private companies, Medigap (also known as Medicare Supplement) is a supplemental insurance policy that can be used alongside original Medicare to fill any gaps in coverage. If you have a Medigap policy, it will cover a portion or all of certain remaining costs after original Medicare pays its share. These costs can include deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. You cannot use a Medigap policy with a Medicare Advantage plan (only original Medicare).

Some Medigap policies pay for medical services that don’t fall under original Medicare, such as doctor or hospital visits that take place when you’re traveling abroad. Most Medigap plans—including plants C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, M, and N—off coverage for emergency medical care while traveling abroad, with a lifetime cap of $50,000. These plans:

• Cover 80% of eligible charges for "medically necessary" emergency care outside the U.S. after an annual $250 deductible is met.
• Apply to emergencies occurring within the first 60 days of your trip, provided Medicare does not cover the services.

If you still have on eof the discontinued Medigap plans (plans E, H, I, and J) that you purchased before June 1, 2010, your foreign travel emergency benefits remain intact.

The bottom line: Are you covered by Medicare if you're traveling?

If you have original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, you'll be covered for emergency care while traveling anywhere in the U.S. Keep in mind that if you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you may not be covered for routine health care beyond your plan's service area.

Outside the U.S., Medicare coverage is limited.

Certain Medicare Advantage plans and Medigap policies may offer some additional coverage for foreign travel. Before your trip, check with your plan to see exactly what it does and does not cover.

Ryan Ramsey, NCOA Associate Director of Health Coverage and Benefits, said it's important for Medicare beneficiaries to think ahead when traveling overseas: "If you'll be visiting another country for your next vacation, keep in mind your Medicare coverage may be very limited, even in an emergency." he explained. "In most cases, you will not be reimbursed for international medical bills—so expect to pay 100% of these costs out of pocket. It's something you need to think about when planning your trip, since no one wants their vacation ruined by unexpected medical bills. However, these unexpected events happen to all of us, so if you do require emergency care collect all paperwork possible explaining your situation with doctors’ signatures possible, the more the better. That can be a great challenge when you return and are trying to get these costs covered, providing all documentation necessary without having to contact these foreign institutions again and wait to receive the necessary proof later.""

How can you avoid unexpected health care costs while traveling?

Consider buying travel health insurance to expand your foreign health care coverage, which will allow you to roam the globe with more peace of mind. Talk to a trusted insurance or travel agent for more details on coverage and cost.