Medicare Coverage limits for senior US citizens traveling overseas
Most older US citizens have received the Covid vaccination in the United States and this has provided them with the opportunity to travel after having been forced to stay within safe bubble environments during the pandemic. US senior citizens must be well informed about the International travel insurance coverage limitations of Medicare while outside the US. As Medicare is an US federal health insurance program for senior citizens over 65 years, it will not offer medical coverage outside the US except when they are on cruise with the waters connecting the US states. This is offered by the Medicare Part B (medical insurance) plan. In case you are in a foreign country and need coverage for inpatient hospital expenses, doctor visits, ambulance services, or dialysis, Medicare may pay for the expenses under these conditions.
- If you get admitted to a foreign hospital which is closer than a US hospital that can treat your emergency medical condition.
- If you get admitted to a Canadian hospital which can treat your medical emergency while travelling between Alaska and any other state and you are crossing Canada.
- If you get admitted to a hospital nearest to where you are staying which can treat you under emergency medical condition.
International travel insurance for US citizens enrolled in Medicare
When you are on a ship and need coverage, Medicare will not pay for health care services when the ship is more than 6 hours away from the US port. The Medicare prescription drugs plan don't offer coverage for the drugs purchased outside the United States. All the 50 US states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa are considered part of the U.S and accept US Medicare.
As Medicare offers limited coverage for travel outside the US, It is advisable to buy adequate international travel health insurance to get proper medical coverage while outside the US borders. All of the popular international travel destinations for US citizens like Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean islands, Latin and South American nations, Europe, Australia and Asia are not covered by regular Medicare coverage.
Medicare Supplemental Travel health insurance plans for older US travelers
Globehopper Insurance
Globehopper insurance offered by International Medical Group (IMG) is a travel health insurance is avaiable for US citizens and US permanent residents 65 years and older Qualified for Medicare, actively enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B and enrolled in a Medigap Plan or Medicare Advantage Plan, This plan is secondary to Medicare, a Medigap and/or a Medicare Advantage Plan and provides coverage for medical expenses outside the U.S. only.. The GlobeHopper Senior plan is available either as the GlobeHopper Single-Trip plan for single trips with coverage from 5 days to 365 days, or as the GlobeHopper Multi-trip plan which covers a period of 12 months with a maximum of 30 days for each overseas trip.
The GlobeHopper Senior plan is very popular as it provides coverage up to $1 million for travelers less than 79 years and $100,000 for travelers more than 80 years old. The plan includes $2,500 cover for sudden unexpected recurrence of an existing medical ailment and $25,000 for emergency medical evacuation.
Intermedical Insurance
Intermedical Insurance from Travel Insure is an affordable international travel health insurance for US citizens. It offers coverage for medical and evacuation expenses for short trips. It is available up to 12 months.
Worldmed Insurance
Worldmed Insurance from Travel Insure is an renewable long term international travel health insurance for US citizens. It offers coverage for medical and evacuation expenses. It is renewable up to 3 years.
