Can I use Medicare in any state?

Does Original Medicare work in every state?

Yes. With Original Medicare you can go to any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare, anywhere in the U.S. For this rule, Medicare.gov counts the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.

You may pay more if a doctor doesn't accept assignment. Before you get services, ask the provider whether they charge the Medicare-approved amount: if they do, you won't be billed for more than the Medicare deductible and coinsurance; if they don't, they can charge you more than the Medicare-approved amount, and you might have to pay the full cost at the time of service. Bring your Medicare card, and if you have Medigap or other supplemental coverage, that plan's card too.

Does a Medicare Advantage plan cover me in another state?

It depends on the plan. With Medicare Advantage, you need to use doctors who are in the plan's network and service area for non-emergency and non-urgent care. Some plans offer non-emergency coverage out of network, but it may cost more. The rules by plan type:

• HMO: you generally must get care from doctors, other providers and hospitals in the plan's network, except emergency care, out-of-area urgent care and temporary out-of-area dialysis. If you get care outside the network, you may have to pay the full cost. Some HMOs are Point-of-Service (HMOPOS) plans that may allow some services out of network for a higher copayment or coinsurance.
• PPO: you can use out-of-network providers for covered services if they participate in Medicare or accept assignment, but you'll usually pay more. Contact the plan before you see an out-of-network provider to make sure the services are medically necessary and covered.
• Living in another state part of the year: Medicare.gov advises checking whether a plan will cover you there before you join.

Am I covered for an emergency in another state?

Yes. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can always get emergency care and urgent care when needed, even if the doctor or hospital isn't in the plan's network; PPO members are always covered for emergency and urgent care.

In Original Medicare, Part B usually covers emergency department services and covers urgently needed care. For an emergency department visit you pay a copayment for the visit and for each hospital service, plus 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for your doctor's services after the $283 Part B deductible in 2026. For urgently needed care you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the deductible, and a copayment in a hospital outpatient setting. See Does Medicare cover emergency room visits?.

Does Medigap work in other states?

A Medigap policy works with Original Medicare: when you get care, Medicare pays its share of the Medicare-approved amount for covered health care costs, and then your Medigap policy pays its share. In general, you can keep your current Medigap policy regardless of where you live as long as you still have Original Medicare, and policies with the same letter offer the same basic benefits no matter where you live (Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin standardize Medigap policies in a different way).

Medicare SELECT, a type of Medigap policy sold in some states, is different: it requires you to use hospitals (and, in some cases, doctors) in its network to get full benefits. If you use a non-network hospital or doctor for non-emergency services, you pay some or all of what the Medigap policy doesn't cover, though Medicare still pays its share of approved costs.

Can I fill prescriptions in another state?

Medicare drug plans (Part D) have pharmacy networks, so check with your plan which pharmacies are in-network before you fill a prescription away from home. In-network pharmacies are 'preferred' or 'standard', and if you use an out-of-network pharmacy, you might have to pay the full cost. Bring your drug plan card when you fill prescriptions.

What if I move to another state?

A move works differently from a visit. A Medicare Advantage plan's service area is the area you must live in for the plan to accept you as a member, and a plan can disenroll you if you move outside its service area; you then get a Special Enrollment Period to choose new coverage. With Original Medicare, you can still use any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare, anywhere in the U.S. See What happens to my Medicare if I move to another state?.