How to Compare Medicare Supplement Insurance Companies
When comparing Medicare Supplement companies, don’t compare benefits first—compare the same standardized plan across insurers.
Medigap Foreign Travel Emergency Coverage Explained
Last Modified: 10/06/2026 | Reviewed by Keith Armbrecht (NPN 634015)
Quick Summary
Several Medicare Supplement plans, including Plan G and Plan N, provide limited emergency medical coverage while traveling outside the United States.
For qualifying foreign emergencies, these Medigap plans generally pay:
80% of billed charges
after you meet a:
$250 annual deductible
Coverage applies to qualifying emergency care that begins during the first 60 days of your trip, with a:
$50,000 lifetime foreign-travel limit.
Key Facts
- Original Medicare generally doesn’t cover healthcare outside the U.S.
- Plans G and N include foreign-travel emergency benefits.
- Coverage is generally 80%.
- Annual foreign-travel deductible: $250.
- Lifetime maximum: $50,000.
- Emergency must generally begin within the first 60 days of the trip.
- Coverage applies when Medicare itself doesn’t otherwise cover the care.
- You may need to pay the foreign provider directly.
- You may then need to submit documentation for reimbursement.
- This isn’t unlimited international health insurance.
How It Works
Suppose you’re traveling in Europe and have a qualifying medical emergency.
The foreign hospital bill is:
$10,000
You first satisfy the applicable:
$250 deductible
Then the Medigap foreign-travel benefit generally pays:
80% of qualifying billed charges
subject to policy requirements and the lifetime maximum.
Which Medigap Plans Include It?
Under standardized benefits, several plans have foreign-travel emergency coverage.
For people commonly choosing Medicare today, the most relevant include:
- Plan G
- Plan N
- Plan D
- Plan M
Certain older plans also contain the benefit.
What Is the Lifetime Limit?
The standardized foreign emergency benefit has a lifetime maximum of:
$50,000
That means this coverage may not be sufficient for a very serious or extended overseas medical event.
First 60 Days of Travel
The emergency generally needs to begin during the:
First 60 days
of your trip outside the United States.
People taking extended international trips should pay particular attention to this limitation.
Consider Separate Travel Insurance
Medigap foreign emergency coverage is useful.
But someone who travels internationally frequently may want separate travel medical insurance with:
- Higher medical limits
- Medical evacuation
- Repatriation
- Longer trip coverage
- Other international benefits
Video Explanation from Keith
Does Plan G Cover You Overseas?
Keith's Take
The foreign-travel benefit is a nice feature of Plan G and Plan N.
But I don’t want people treating a $50,000 lifetime benefit as if it’s unlimited worldwide health coverage.
A major overseas hospitalization or medical evacuation can become very expensive.
If you’re taking a significant international trip, understand both what Medigap covers and where you may want additional travel insurance.
Keith Armbrecht
Medicare on Video
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does Plan G cover foreign emergencies?
A. Yes, subject to standardized limits.
Q. Does Plan N?
A. Yes.
Q. What percentage does Medigap pay?
A. Generally 80% of qualifying billed charges after the deductible.
Q. What is the deductible?
A. $250 per year for the foreign-travel benefit.
Q. What is the lifetime maximum?
A. $50,000.
Q. How long can my trip be?
A. The qualifying emergency generally must begin during the first 60 days of your trip.
Q. Does this replace travel insurance?
A. Not necessarily.
Q. Does Original Medicare pay first?
A. The Medigap foreign-travel benefit generally applies to qualifying foreign emergency care that Medicare doesn't otherwise cover.
Official Government Sources
Explore Related Guides
What Is the Best Medicare Supplement Plan? How to Decide
There isn’t one Medicare Supplement plan that’s best for everyone. For people newly eligible for Medicare today, the three options I most often want compared are: Plan G, Plan N
