Louis Rossiter offers expert guidance on Medicare coverage for travelers

With millions of Americans traveling each year—across state lines and overseas—understanding how Medicare works away from home is essential. In the U.S. News & World Report article “Will Medicare Cover Care If You’re Traveling?” published August 14, 2025, Louis F. Rossiter, retired professor of health economics at William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business, shared expert insights to help travelers navigate this often-overlooked aspect of trip planning.

For domestic travel, Rossiter told U.S. News that “Medicare covers your care whether you are on Traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage. You have the coverage that Medicare provides in either type of plan. Medicare Advantage plans must cover everything Traditional Medicare covers.”

However, Rossiter explained to U.S. News that international travel is different: “Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage do not generally cover care.” While there are exceptions—such as medically necessary ambulance transport to an overseas hospital—patients remain responsible for 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. He added that specific Medigap plans (C, D, F, G, M, and N) include foreign travel emergency coverage within defined limits, which can help fill some gaps.

Rossiter also told U.S. News that medication access can be a bigger challenge than medical coverage itself. “It is not really Medicare or Medicare Supplemental that is the limiting factor,” he said. “It is that you will not have a prescription for that country’s pharmacy.” Even within the U.S., he noted, prescription refill rules vary by state, with some requiring pharmacists to call the prescribing physician before dispensing even a short-term supply.

Given these coverage limitations and logistical challenges, Rossiter advised in the U.S. News interview that “your travel health insurance is the better source of assistance, versus Medicare supplements or Medicare Advantage.”

Read the full U.S. News & World Report article, “Will Medicare Cover Care If You’re Traveling?” by Geoff Williams, published August 14, 2025.