Medicare Benefits for U.S. Citizens Living Abroad (2024)

FAQs

Medicare Benefits for U.S. Citizens Living Abroad? ›

Medicare generally does not cover health services outside the United States. If you move outside the United States: Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), is available to you if you return. No monthly premium is withheld from your Social Security benefit payment for this protection.

Although Medicare does not typically cover medical costs you receive when you live abroad, you still need to choose whether to enroll in Medicare when you become eligible or to turn down enrollment. This requires considering: Whether you plan to return to the U.S.

To be eligible for any Medicare benefits, these individuals must 1) be lawful permanent residents (LPR, holding a green card) and 2) have five years of continuous residence in the United States immediately prior to Medicare enrollment.

Does US health insurance cover you living abroad? Generally, U.S. health insurance benefits will not cover you while outside of the U.S. Your domestic U.S. health insurance plans will cover you in a specific region within the USA.

Medicare generally does not cover health services outside the United States. If you move outside the United States: Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), is available to you if you return. No monthly premium is withheld from your Social Security benefit payment for this protection.

If you have moved outside the United States permanently, you should decide whether to keep Medicare Parts A and B. Remember, you can have Medicare while you live abroad, but it will usually not cover the care you receive. Most people qualify for premium-free Part A, meaning you will pay nothing for coverage.

The nearest US embassy or consulate can help travelers locate medical services and notify your friends, family, or employer of an emergency. They are available for emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, overseas and in Washington, DC (888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444).

Medicare Advantage Coverage for International Travel

Most Medicare Advantage plans don't cover travel outside your service area, including to other U.S. states. So these plans often don't cover international travel either. The plans only pay for medical care in one of the four qualifying situations.

Medicare does not pay for medical services you receive outside the United States. Medigap policies C through J have a foreign travel benefit for medically necessary emergency care that would have been covered by Medicare in the United States. This benefit is for short-term travel outside the United States.

Who is a lawful permanent resident for Medicare? ›

Be age 65 or older; Be a U.S. resident; AND. Be either a U.S. citizen, OR. Be an alien who has been lawfully admitted for permanent residence and has been residing in the United States for 5 continuous years prior to the month of filing an application for Medicare.

All potential candidates have to meet the eligibility requirements for Medicare. To qualify for full Medicare benefits: You must be a U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents who have lived in the United States for at least five continuous years. You must be age 65 or older, or qualify due to a disability.

When instituted in 1972 the waiting period was intended to limit Medicare costs. However, providing health insurance to those in the waiting period may reduce Medicare spending on these individuals over the long term.

There is no time limit on how long a person can live outside the country and receive benefits. Foreign citizens with a U.S. work history may also qualify for Social Security benefits under certain agreements. Social Security payments can be deposited directly into a foreign bank account.

If a U.S. citizen spends at least 330 full days outside the U.S. during a given calendar year, they are exempt from maintaining ACA compliant health insurance. This means you can have health insurance while living abroad that is not PPACA compliant.

To be eligible for health coverage through the Marketplace, you must live in the United States; must be a U.S. citizen or national (or be lawfully present) and can't be currently incarcerated. For tax issues related to ACA, see the ACA page within the IRS website.

If you earned Social Security benefits, you can visit or live in most foreign countries and still receive payments. Look up the country on the SSA Payments Abroad Screening Tool to be sure you can receive your payments.

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.