Medicare Coverage Overseas: What You Need to Know Before Traveling for Medical Care

When you travel outside the U.S., Medicare coverage overseas, the U.S. federal health program for people 65 and older, generally does not pay for care received in other countries. Also known as Medicare international coverage, it’s one of the biggest surprises for seniors planning medical trips or extended travel. Most routine care, emergency services, and even hospital stays abroad are not covered—unless it’s a rare case like a medical emergency on a cruise ship near U.S. waters. This gap leaves many people vulnerable to high out-of-pocket costs, especially if they’re seeking lower-cost treatments in countries like India, Thailand, or Mexico.

That’s why medical tourism, the practice of traveling to another country for affordable, high-quality healthcare. Also known as health tourism, it’s growing fast, with people heading overseas for procedures like joint replacements, heart surgery, and even weight-loss treatments like Wegovy and semaglutide. But if you’re relying on Medicare, you’re on your own. You won’t get reimbursed. You won’t get prior authorization. You won’t even get a simple explanation from your local Medicare office. That’s why people who use this route often carry a medication passport, a portable document listing all your prescriptions and medical history to avoid customs issues, and buy private travel insurance that actually covers overseas care.

Some of the posts in this collection show just how common this gap is. People are having open-heart surgery in their 80s, getting knee replacements, and using weight-loss drugs like Ozempic—all while trying to figure out how to pay for it abroad. One person saved thousands by getting semaglutide at Walmart for $90 a month, but what if they needed it while on vacation in Europe? Medicare won’t help. Another person traveled to Mississippi for affordable care, but what if they’d gone to India instead? No coverage. No safety net. That’s why knowing your limits matters. You need to understand what’s covered, what’s not, and how to protect yourself before you book a flight.

There’s no magic fix. Medicare was built for care within the U.S. system. But if you’re planning to travel for health reasons—whether for cost, access, or a specific treatment—you need to plan like a pro. That means checking your private insurance, buying supplemental travel health coverage, keeping detailed records of your meds and procedures, and knowing exactly what your destination’s medical standards are. The posts below give you real examples: how to get a medication passport, what heart surgery recovery looks like abroad, how to navigate insurance denials for drugs like Ozempic, and why some states are easier to live in financially while getting care. None of it changes Medicare’s rules. But together, they give you the tools to work around them.