Medicare coverage in the Philippines is limited unless in an emergency situation and an American hospital is not available. There are only three situations that will qualify you for Medicare coverage in a foreign hospital or a hospital outside the U.S.:

1. You are 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.
2. You are traveling through Canada without reasonable 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 will determine what qualifies as ‘without unreasonable delay’ on a case-by-case basis.
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 whether it is an emergency.

If you have Medicare Advantage Plan (like HMO or PPO) or another Medicare health plan, your plan may offer additional coverage for health care services you get in the Philippines. Check with your plan because they vary on a state-by-state basis. We recommend researching your home state to find out what will be covered.

For some retirees or expats living in the Philippines, they opt to travel back to the U.S. when they anticipate major surgery or operation. LANEBROOK would only recommend you to do the same if you think you are physically healthy to travel back and forth. Otherwise, we suggest that you take advantage of the Philippines’ equally top-notch hospitals and facilities that meet international standards – and more compassionate care at lower costs – so you won’t have to go back to the U.S. to avail Medicare benefits.

At present, a lobbying effort is being undertaken by local and U.S.-based groups to extend Medicare coverage to the Philippines.