Healthcare coverage when traveling outside the United States

From SmartMedicalConsumer Wiki

Medicare

Medicare does not provide coverage for hospital and medical costs outside the U.S.A.

Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands are considered part of the United States.

There are some exceptions. In rare cases, Medicare can pay for inpatient hospital services that you get in Canada or Mexico. Medicare can pay only if:

• You live in the U.S. near a foreign hospital, and you need emergency or non-emergency medical treatment. If a foreign hospital is closer or easier to get to from your home than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your condition, Medicare may pay for the services.
• You’re in the U.S. when you have a medical emergency. If a foreign hospital is closer or easier to get to than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your emergency, Medicare may pay for the services.
• You’re crossing through Canada without delay between Alaska and another state, and you have a medical emergency. If a Canadian hospital is closer or easier to get to than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your emergency, Medicare may pay for the services.

Check with your Medicare Medicare Advantage plans and Medigap policies, which might have coverage for some services abroad.

Visit the Medicare website for additional information on Medicare Coverage Outside the United States.

Private Health Insurance

Private health insurance plans might cover some of the medical services outside the country. Check what medical services your health insurance will cover overseas. If your health insurance policy provides coverage outside the United States, remember to carry both your insurance policy identity card as proof of such insurance and a claim form. Although many health insurance companies will pay "customary and reasonable" hospital costs abroad, very few will pay for your medical evacuation back to the United States.

See the tips from U.S. Department of State how to get assistance if an American citizen becomes ill or injured abroad.