Does Medicare cover emergency care anywhere in the U.S.?

If you have a genuine medical emergency anywhere in the country, Medicare has you covered. This applies whether you are at home in Utah or visiting family in Florida. Hospitals are required to provide emergency care to Medicare patients, and Medicare will pay its share regardless of the hospital's network status. This is true under Original Medicare, and it is also true under Medicare Advantage. Federal law requires Medicare Advantage plans to cover emergency care at any hospital, in-network or out-of-network, at the same cost-sharing level. So you should not face higher out-of-pocket costs just because the nearest ER was not in your plan's network. One thing to understand is the difference between emergency care and urgent care. Once you are stabilized, the rules can shift. If you are admitted to the hospital after an emergency, or if you need follow-up care, your plan's network rules may come back into play. Also, Medicare generally does not cover care outside the United States, with very limited exceptions. But within the 50 states, you are protected in a true emergency. Always verify your specific plan details, since rules can vary.

Related Medicare Resources

• Medicare Advantage HMO Plans
• Medicare Advantage PPO Plans
• Medicare Supplement Plan G
• Compare Medicare Plans