Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
If you already have some kind of health coverage at home, start by checking the coverage you have out of area and/or out of the country.
In the USA, traditional health insurance tends to provide worldwide coverage at least for emergencies while managed care of various types doesn't permit much out of network. IIRC Medicare (and presumably Medicaid) is USA only. Some employers cover medical evacuation and repatriation even for leisure travel.
Medicare does not provide any coverage outside the US but some supplementary policies might (mine does). It is usually for emergency care only and transportation to the nearest competent medical facility. You can buy membership in organisations that will provide hospital-to-hospital transport without regard to medical need, otherwise you might have to wait until you have recovered to get home.