Your Medicare coverage pretty much stops at the U.S. border. There
are only a few exceptions to this policy. I'll cover those with a few
more comments.
Make no mistake about it. Medicare is a U.S. based
health 'insurance' program, and only for those who've reached age 65.
You've been paying into it for most all your life. And you still must if
you work and live abroad since you must always pay U.S taxes which
include the Medicare tax. But if you move offshore, Medicare will not
pay your health expenses that you incur abroad. You, of course, can come
back to the U.S. to incur your expenses there under Medicare's help.
But the exceptions for Medicare help while outside has to do with
traveling - and they are rather limited.
The Original Medicare
Plan generally doesn't cover health care while you're traveling outside
the United States. But note that Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands are considered
part of the United States.
But there are some exceptions. In rare
cases, Medicare can pay for inpatient hospital services that you get in
Canada or Mexico. Medicare can pay only if:
* You live in the U.S.
near a foreign (Canadian or Mexican) hospital, and you need emergency
or non-emergency medical treatment. If a foreign hospital is closer or
easier to get to from your home than the nearest U.S. hospital that can
treat your condition, Medicare may pay for the services.
* You're
in the U.S. when you have a medical emergency. If a foreign hospital
(Canadian or Mexican) is closer or easier to get to than the nearest
U.S. hospital that can treat your emergency, Medicare may pay for the
services.
* You're crossing through Canada without delay between
Alaska and another state, and you have a medical emergency. If a
Canadian hospital is closer or easier to get to than the nearest U.S.
hospital that can treat your emergency, Medicare may pay for the
services.
-Normal or other Medicare coverage criteria also applies to the services you get in foreign settings:
Some
Medicare Advantage plans may provide worldwide coverage benefits for
health care needs when you travel outside the United States. You should
check with your Medicare Advantage plan prior to traveling outside of
the United States regarding worldwide coverage benefits.
Medigap
policies C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J provide Foreign Travel Emergency
health care coverage when you travel outside the United States. For
additional information about what these Medigap policies cover and if
they are offered in your area, please visit the Medicare site for
finding Medicare Prescription Drug Program Finder.
Source
There's No Off-Shore Medicare Help Aside From Rare Travel Exceptions
Posted by CB Blogger
Blog, Updated at: 8:26 AM
