Winter in Palm Beach County. Summer somewhere cooler. Make sure your coverage can keep up with your calendar.
Start with the care you expect to use in each location, then check how your coverage works away from home.
Plan your Medicare conversationHealth Palm Beach Insurance Advisors • Updated October 23, 2026 • General education
Emergency protection and a scheduled specialist visit are different conversations. Before leaving Florida, check your exact plan and the providers you want to see.
| Coverage | What to check |
|---|---|
| Original Medicare | You can use doctors and hospitals that accept Medicare anywhere in the U.S. Confirm that the provider accepts new patients and Medicare assignment. |
| Medicare Advantage | Routine care may depend on the plan’s network and service area. Some plans cover out-of-network care at a higher cost. Verify the specific doctor, location, and service. |
| Prescription coverage | Check pharmacies in both places. A familiar chain’s location may have different network or preferred status. Ask about refill timing before you travel. |
Medicare Advantage covers emergency and urgently needed care even outside its network in the U.S. Routine follow-up care can have different rules. Call 911 for an emergency; contact your plan about follow-up arrangements.
Do not assume so. Ask your plan about temporary-absence limits, visitor benefits, and residency requirements. Rules vary. An extended stay and a permanent move may affect enrollment differently.
Moving outside a Medicare Advantage or Part D service area can create a Special Enrollment Period. If you notify the plan before moving, the window generally begins the month before the move and continues for two full months afterward. Contact the plan before relocating to coordinate coverage.
Original Medicare generally does not cover care outside the U.S., with limited exceptions. Some Medigap policies and Medicare Advantage plans have foreign emergency benefits. Check benefit limits and exclusions. Medicare drug plans do not cover prescriptions purchased outside the U.S.
Use this checklist while you review your plan. Nothing is submitted.
Standardized Plans G and N include foreign travel emergency coverage: generally 80% of eligible billed charges after a $250 annual deductible, with a $50,000 lifetime limit. The emergency must begin within the first 60 days of the trip. Confirm policy terms with your insurer.
Original Medicare may cover eligible services on a ship in a U.S. port or within six hours of one, if the doctor meets Medicare’s requirements. It does not cover services when the ship is more than six hours from a U.S. port.
Travel insurance does not always include medical coverage. Review exclusions, pre-existing-condition rules, medical evacuation, and how claims are paid.
Source: Medicare’s travel coverage fact sheet. General rules, not a guarantee of payment.
Our Palm Beach County team can help you compare available coverage around your doctors, prescriptions, budget, and time away.
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No cost for our guidance. No obligation to enroll. Health Palm Beach Insurance Advisors is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Services are available where licensed; plan terms and availability vary.