Does Medicare Advantage Cover You Out of State? Travel Rules for 2027

Whatever plan type you have, these are covered anywhere in the U.S.:

What is not guaranteed is routine care: a checkup, a specialist visit, physical therapy or a planned surgery in another state. Whether those are covered depends on the plan type and the plan’s own travel rules.

Source: our analysis of CMS 2027 Plan Benefit Package and service area data, individual non-employer plans excluding special needs, cost and PACE plans.

A PPO is the usual choice for people who travel, but out-of-network coverage is not the same as in-network coverage. Out-of-network costs count toward a higher combined out-of-pocket maximum, and a provider out of state may decline to bill your plan. Call ahead before a planned visit.

Our analysis of CMS 2027 plan data

Selling PPOs in many states does not mean one nationwide network. Each PPO plan still has its own service area, and its in-network benefits apply to that plan’s network.

Medicare Advantage plans generally must disenroll you if you are away from the service area for more than six months in a row. Medica, for example, lists being “away from the plan’s service area for more than six months” as a reason for disenrollment. In September 2026, 24/7 Wall St. described a Minnesota retiree who left for Arizona on November 1 without a traveler benefit and whose plan would drop her on June 1.

Some plans offer a visitor/traveler program that lets you stay enrolled for up to 12 months in certain areas. HMSA in Hawaii, for example, says members may remain in the plan out of the service area for up to 12 months where it offers the program, and pay the same in-network costs through participating Blue Medicare Advantage PPO providers. Other Blue Cross plans have similar arrangements, but participation varies, so check your plan’s Evidence of Coverage.

Original Medicare generally does not cover care outside the United States. Some Medicare Advantage plans add worldwide emergency or urgent care coverage as an extra benefit, often with a yearly dollar limit. Look for “worldwide emergency” in the plan’s Summary of Benefits, and consider travel medical insurance for longer trips.