From
https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/11037.pdf
In most situations, Medicare won’t pay for health care or supplies you get outside the U.S. The term “outside the U.S.” means
anywhere other than the 50 states of the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. This fact sheet explains some of the exceptions that would allow you to get coverage outside the U.S. under Original Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and/or Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance).
When does Medicare cover health care services in a foreign hospital? There are 3 situations when Medicare
may pay for certain types of health care services you get in a foreign hospital (a hospital outside the U.S.):
1. You’re
in the U.S. when you have a medical emergency, and the foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your illness or injury.
Must be in the US to start with.
2. You’re
traveling through Canada without unreasonable delay by the most direct route between Alaska and another state when a medical emergency occurs, and the Canadian hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your illness or injury. Medicare determines what qualifies as “without unreasonable delay” on a case-by-case basis.
Only Canada, not any other nearby country.
3. You
live in the U.S. and the foreign hospital is closer to your home than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition, regardless of whether it’s an emergency. Remember, in these situations, Medicare will pay only for the Medicare covered services you get in a foreign hospital.
Again, if you are in the US. Not already outside the US.
Yes, in some instances Medicare covers some procedures "outside the US". But, mostly not.
Will Medicare pay for medically necessary health care services I get on a cruise ship? Medicare
may cover medically necessary health care services you get on a cruise ship in these situations:
• The doctor is allowed under certain laws to provide medical services on the cruise ship.
Not sure exactly what this means.
• The ship is in a U.S. port or
no more than 6 hours away from a U.S. port when you get the services, regardless of whether it’s an emergency. Medicare doesn’t cover health care services you get when the ship is more than 6 hours away from a U.S. port.
"6 hours" is that 6 hours travel by ship, or in a straight line?
Personally, it's worth the small extra cost to know I have coverage with a company that is in business to provide coverage "out of the US". No small print to wade through.
