Moving from the United States
Medicaid does not pay overseas
Medicaid does not pay for medical care outside the United States. The US State Department says Medicare and Medicaid do not pay for medical care outside the country. Eligibility is also tied to living in a state, so a move abroad can end the card as well as leave the foreign hospital unpaid.
Information only, not insurance, tax, or benefits advice. Official rules and your plan documents take precedence. Checked 4 October 2026.
The rule
There is no federal mechanism for a foreign hospital to bill Medicaid. Out-of-state US care is a different rule, under 42 CFR 431.52, and does not extend to another country. A few state programs have a border exception. California's Medi-Cal is the one people cite: emergency care that requires hospitalization in Canada or Mexico. That is not cover in Chiang Mai.
What to do before you fly
Tell the state program you are leaving. Buy international cover for the country you are moving to before the flight. Medicaid is not a travel policy and not an expat policy. See Medicare, which people mix up with this card.
Common questions
- Does Medicaid cover me in Thailand?
- No. Medicaid does not pay for medical care outside the United States. The State Department says Medicare and Medicaid do not pay for medical care outside the country.
- Can I keep Medicaid if I move overseas?
- Medicaid eligibility is tied to living in a state. Someone who has moved abroad with no intention of returning has usually stopped being a resident. Check the state program before you rely on the card.
- Does Medi-Cal cover Canada or Mexico?
- California's Medi-Cal has a narrow exception for emergency hospitalization in Canada or Mexico. That is a state rule, not cover in other countries, and not the federal rule.