Medicare Part B: Travel Coverage

Most people who are on Medicare insurance know the basics of what is covered through Medicare, but what about parts of Medicare Part B that you are unaware of?  Since you are paying for Medicare Part B it is only fair that you know exactly what is covered so you can get the biggest bang for your buck.  Here is one unknown area of Medicare Part B, travel coverage.

In general, Medicare Part B does not cover you when you are traveling outside the United States and its territories.  However, there are three exceptions:

1) If an emergency arose within the U.S. and the foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition.

2) If you are traveling through Canada without unreasonable delay by the most direct route between Alaska and another state when a medical emergency occurs and the Canadian hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat the emergency.

3) If you live in the U.S. and the foreign hospital is closer to your home than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition, regardless of whether an emergency exists.

The coverage in these situations would be applicable to your Medicare Part B deductible and you would be responsible for 20% of the amount approved by Medicare.