Moving Abroad for a Year or Two? Keep Part B.

You're not sure yet — Portugal for a year, Mexico for two, wherever. That uncertainty is actually the most important fact about your Medicare decision. People in your situation are the most tempted to drop Part B ("why pay $202.90/month for something I can't use?") — and the most vulnerable to the penalty if they do and come back.

Figures on this page reflect 2026 Medicare rates published by CMS. Premiums and deductibles change annually — verify current amounts at medicare.gov before making decisions.

Kelly Milligan, founder of Expat Retire Guide

By Kelly Milligan

Updated May 17, 2026 · Published April 26, 2026

The Cost of Being Wrong

If you drop Part B and come back after two years, here's what happened financially:

Drop Part B for 2 years — then return

Premiums saved while abroad $4,870

Permanent late enrollment penalty +20% forever (+$40.58/month)

Break-even after return ~10 years

If you return at 68 and live to 85, the penalty costs you roughly $8,200 in extra premiums against $4,870 in savings. Live longer and the math gets worse.

Drop Part B for 1 year — then return

Premiums saved while abroad $2,435

Permanent late enrollment penalty +10% forever (+$20.29/month)

Break-even after return ~10 years

The ratio is the same regardless of how long you were abroad — savings and penalty scale together, so the break-even is always around 10 years post-return.

The case for keeping Part B on a trial move

$4,870 saved. A permanent penalty that costs more than that over a normal retirement lifespan. Keep Part B. The only scenario where dropping it makes financial sense is if you're genuinely never coming back — and on a trial move, you don't know that yet.

Your Coverage Stack for a Trial Move

Keep the US stack intact. Add international coverage for the time abroad. Here's what that looks like:

Part A

Keep it — always

Free for most people. Covers hospital stays when you're back in the US. There's no reason to drop it.

Part B

Keep it — for a trial move, it's not negotiable

Doesn't work abroad, but dropping it for a temporary absence locks in a permanent penalty if you return. At $202.90/month, you're paying for insurance against the penalty — not for coverage you'll use.

Medigap

Get Plan G before you leave — this is urgent

Plan G fills the gaps in Original Medicare for US visits and includes 80% foreign emergency coverage up to $50,000 lifetime. More importantly: get it while you're still home, during your guaranteed issue window. That window doesn't follow you abroad.

Why Medigap timing matters →

Part D

Keep it — same penalty logic as Part B

Covers nothing outside the US. But the late enrollment penalty is 1% per month (12% per year, compounding) — permanent. For a trial move, the savings don't outweigh the risk.

Intl Insurance

Your day-to-day coverage abroad

IPMI (International Private Medical Insurance) is what actually pays for care while you're living abroad — GP visits, specialist appointments, inpatient stays. The US stack sits dormant for your trial period. This is your active coverage.

Compare international plans →

The Medigap Window — Don't Leave Without It

Medigap's guaranteed issue window is a one-time opportunity. When you first enroll in Part B, you have 6 months to buy any Medigap plan from any insurer — no medical questions, no underwriting, no rejection. After that window closes, most states allow insurers to turn you down based on your health history.

If you're doing a trial move, the calculus is simple: the window is open now. Buy Medigap before you go. Getting Plan G after a year or two abroad — when the window has closed and your health may have changed — is a different, harder conversation.

Just turning 65 and planning a trial move?

Your timing is the most important variable. Enroll in Part B and buy Medigap before you leave — the guaranteed issue window opens at Part B enrollment and lasts just 6 months. It doesn't pause for your trial period. Miss it now, and you may face medical underwriting when you come back.

Before You Leave: The Checklist

Four things to do in the months before departure:

Step 1

Enroll in Part B if you haven't already

If you're turning 65, enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period (the 7-month window around your birthday). If you've been on an employer plan, enroll during a Special Enrollment Period when that coverage ends. Don't let a gap happen.

Step 2

Buy Medigap during your guaranteed issue window

Plan G is the most popular choice for expats — it covers Part B's 20% coinsurance, the Part A deductible, and includes 80% foreign emergency coverage up to $50,000 lifetime. Buy it before you go, while the window is open and your application is guaranteed.

Step 3

Switch off Medicare Advantage if you're on it

If you're currently on a Part C Advantage plan, switch to Original Medicare during open enrollment (October 15–December 7) or a qualifying Special Enrollment Period. Advantage plans can auto-disenroll you after 6 months outside their service area — and that happens on their timeline, not yours.

Step 4

Get international insurance quotes for your abroad period

For a 1–3 year trial, you want a full IPMI plan — not travel insurance. IPMI plans cover inpatient and outpatient care, direct billing at local hospitals, and are designed for people living abroad, not tourists. Get quotes before you leave.

Common Questions

Can I drop Part B for my trial move and re-enroll when I come back?

Technically, yes — but you'll pay a permanent penalty. You can re-enroll during the General Enrollment Period (January 1–March 31), with coverage starting July 1. The late enrollment penalty — 10% per 12-month period you went without Part B — attaches at re-enrollment and never goes away. For a two-year trial, that's a 20% permanent surcharge on your premium. Keep Part B. The math doesn't work in your favor.

What's the Medigap guaranteed issue window, and when does it close?

The guaranteed issue window opens when you first enroll in Medicare Part B — typically when you turn 65. You have 6 months from that date to buy any Medigap policy without medical underwriting. After it closes, most states allow insurers to reject your application or charge higher premiums based on your health history. A few states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York) have more generous protections — but don't count on your state being one of them. Buy Medigap before you leave.

I'm already past 65 and have Part B but never bought Medigap. Can I still get it before I go?

If your guaranteed issue window has already closed, you can still apply for Medigap — but the insurer can use medical underwriting to accept or deny you, or charge more based on your health. In most states, it's worth applying anyway before you go, since abroad you'll want both Medigap's foreign emergency benefit and its coverage for US visits when you return. If you're denied due to a pre-existing condition, speak with your State Insurance Department about any protections that may apply.

Does Medigap cover me while I'm living abroad?

Partially. Most Medigap plans — including Plan G — cover 80% of emergency care abroad, up to a $50,000 lifetime cap (after a $250 deductible). That's a meaningful backstop for a serious emergency, but it's not designed to replace international health insurance. For day-to-day care abroad — GP visits, specialist appointments, routine prescriptions — you need an international private medical insurance (IPMI) plan. Think of Medigap as insurance against the US gaps when you visit, plus an emergency safety net abroad. IPMI is your actual health coverage.

What should I do about Medicare Advantage before a trial move?

Switch off it before you go. Medicare Advantage plans can auto-disenroll you if you're outside the plan's service area for more than 6 months continuously — and that disenrollment happens on the plan's timeline, not yours. When you're disenrolled, you'll get a Special Enrollment Period for Medigap, but it's a narrow window and may not overlap with the policy you want. Switch to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and buy Medigap while you're still home, during open enrollment or a qualifying SEP.

Sources

2026 Medicare Parts B Premiums and Deductibles — CMS: Part B standard premium ($202.90/month) used in all calculations on this page.
Medicare Costs — medicare.gov: Late enrollment penalty rules for Part B (10% per 12-month period, permanent) and Part D (1% per month, permanent).
Compare Medigap Plan Benefits — medicare.gov: Plan G benefits, including 80% foreign travel emergency coverage up to $50,000 lifetime (after $250 deductible).
When Can I Buy a Medigap Policy? — medicare.gov: Guaranteed issue window — 6 months from Part B enrollment — and what happens after it closes.
Medicare Coverage When Living Abroad — Medicare Interactive: Overview of what Medicare covers and doesn't cover for people living outside the US.

Next: Get international coverage for your time abroad

Your Medicare stays in place. Now make sure you have real coverage for the months — or years — you're living abroad. See which IPMI plans work well for trial-period expats.

See which IPMI plans work for your trial year