Yes, several Medicare alternatives and supplements exist for U.S. expats, as Original Medicare generally does not cover healthcare outside the 50 states. Key options include purchasing private international health insurance, enrolling in the host country's national healthcare system, or using specific Medigap plans that cover foreign emergencies.
Deciding whether to maintain coverage
It's important to understand that Medicare typically doesn't provide coverage for healthcare expenses incurred overseas. This means you may need to enroll in private insurance or your country of residence's public healthcare system (if eligible).
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.
In most situations, Medicare won't pay for health care or supplies you get outside the U.S. The term “outside the U.S.” means anywhere other than the 50 states of the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Here are some of the biggest Medicare mistakes to avoid:
Establish an Irrevocable Trust
Cash, property, and investments can be transferred into an irrevocable trust. By doing so, these assets would be removed from Medicaid's calculation. However, this trust would need to be established at least five years before applying for Medicaid to avoid lookback scrutiny.
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.
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 Payments Abroad Screening Tool to find out if you can collect your Social Security payments or survivor benefits.
The best Medicare plans for travelers include both Medicare Supplement, also known as Medigap, (Plan G or Plan F) and Medicare Advantage PPOs with multi-state networks. Medicare does not typically cover international or overseas travel, but some Medigap plans provide limited foreign travel emergency benefits.
Essentially, yes. Canadian residents pay for Medicare through their taxes, but the medical services are free at the point of use. However, Medicare doesn't cover everything (as we discuss below), which is why private health insurance is popular in Canada.
Healthcare costs are high without coverage, with even routine visits or emergencies running into thousands of dollars. Expats can choose from employer plans, ACA marketplace plans, or private international insurance depending on visa status and length of stay.
Medicare does not pay for medical services you receive outside the United States.
Medicare changes for 2026 focus on lowering prescription drug costs, capping out-of-pocket spending for Part D drugs at $2,100, and improving Medicare Advantage (MA) benefits, including better behavioral health cost-sharing and provider network transparency. Key cost adjustments include a higher Part B deductible ($283) and increased Part A hospital deductibles, though many beneficiaries see higher Social Security COLA offsetting premium hikes, with continued $35 insulin caps and new digital tools for managing plans.
If you're eligible for Medicare and neither you nor your spouse is working, you usually can enroll in Medicare while living outside the U.S. But you have a difficult decision to make: Either pay monthly Medicare Part B premiums for coverage you can't use outside the United States, or delay enrollment until you return ...
Top 5 most popular countries for expats right now
Does Medicare check your bank account? Medicare examines your bank accounts and other assets when you seek financial help with Medicare costs. However, eligibility criteria and verification procedures differ by state of residence. In certain states, there are no asset limits for Medicare savings programs.
Generally, you're first eligible to sign up for Part A and Part B starting 3 months before you turn 65 and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65. (You may be eligible for Medicare earlier, if you get disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.)
Want to make your assets virtually untouchable by creditors and lawsuits? Equity stripping may be the answer. This advanced technique involves encumbering your assets with liens or mortgages held by friendly creditors, such as an LLC or trust you control.