Do you lose Medicare if you move out of the country?

Question

Cheri Rogers · Accepted Answer

You won't loose Medicare if you move out of the USA uless you cancell it. However, Medicare does not cover healthcare outside of the USA

Ali Hall · Answer

You won't lose your Medicare eligibility, but Original Medicare becomes essentially useless overseas.  If you move away permanently make sure you get separate international or local health coverage!

Terry Salak · Answer

If you move out of the United States, you can choose to disenroll from Medicare Part B.

However, if you ever move back to the U.S., you may face a permanent financial penalty unless you had creditable coverage (such as medical insurance through a foreign employer) while abroad. For every full 12-month period you went without creditable coverage, your Part B premium will increase by 10%.

Mary Brown · Answer

No, you don't lose your Medicare if you move out of the country. However, Medicare generally does not cover healthcare received outside the U.S., with only a few limited exceptions. If you plan to live abroad, it's important to review your coverage and consider other health insurance options.

Answered by Mary Brown on June 29, 2026

Broker Licensed in NJ, DE, FL & NC, OH, PA & TX

Answered by Mary Brown Medicare Insurance Agent

Howell Silverman · Answer

No. What happens when you move out depends which parts of Medicare you have and whether you expect to return to the USA.

You can generally keep your Medicare part an even if you live abroad. Understand that original Medicare generally does not pay for healthcare received outside the United States. You can generally keep your Medicare part A even if you live abroad. Understand that original Medicare generally does not pay for healthcare received outside the United States with a very few narrow exceptions.

Part B. You may keep part B, even though you cannot use it abroad. If you later return and you already have part B and drop it you may have to wait for an enrollment period to re-enroll and could owe a late enrollment penalty unless you qualify for a special enrollment.

Part D if you leave the service area, which, if you’re living outside the USA, your plan will generally disenroll you because you no longer reside in the Service area. If you later return, you will usually qualify for a special enrollment. To enroll in a new part D plan.

Part C same answer as above for parts C

Jemeel Adams · Answer

No, you won't necissarily lose coverage if you move out of the country.  Medicare will not cover you care overseas. That is the tradeoff.

Linda Pieters · Answer

Medicare is available in the United States and certain territories such as Puerto Rico, but it generally does not cover care outside the U.S. and its territories. If you move abroad, you may keep Medicare enrollment, but your coverage for medical services is very limited in most situations.

Answered by Linda Pieters on June 29, 2026

Agent Licensed in CA

Answered by Linda Pieters Medicare Insurance Agent

Pete Kelly · Answer

Routine or elective medical care abroad is not covered.  However, the rules for your coverage and premiums depend on whether you are traveling temporarily or moving abroad permanently.

Do you lose Medicare if you move out of the country?

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Do you lose Medicare if you move out of the country?

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