Can I keep my Medicare coverage while living in Mexico?

You can stay enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B while living in Mexico, but Medicare almost never pays for healthcare received outside the US. Part A (hospital) has no premium for most beneficiaries, so it costs nothing to keep. Part B has a monthly premium (around $185 in 2026 for most beneficiaries) and pays for outpatient care, which you cannot use in Mexico. Many expats keep Part B anyway as insurance against repatriation for major procedures. Dropping Part B and re-enrolling later triggers a permanent 10% late-enrollment penalty per 12-month gap, so most retirees in Lake Chapala or Mérida keep paying.

Do I need a Mexican address on file with Medicare or a US one?

Medicare requires a US address of record for most account purposes; it does not recognize Mexican addresses for billing, ID cards, or beneficiary correspondence. Most expats use a relative's US address, a mail-forwarding service, or a US PO Box. Update the address through Social Security at +1 (410) 965-0160 between 8-11am Eastern weekdays, not through 1-800-MEDICARE. If you do not maintain a US address, premium notices and ID cards still mail but to wherever Medicare last had on file, which can mean missed bills and lapsed coverage. The SSA Federal Benefits Unit at the US Embassy in Mexico City (+52 55 8526 2233) can handle this in person by appointment.

Why does AT&T Mexico sometimes connect 1-800-MEDICARE when Telcel won't?

AT&T Mexico postpaid plans use peering arrangements with US carriers that route some toll-free traffic, where Telcel and Movistar prepaid SIMs typically do not. AT&T Mexico's US-inclusive postpaid plans (ARMA, Mexico Sin Límite con USA) treat 1-800 numbers as US domestic minutes included in the plan. Telcel Amigo prepaid blocks most US toll-free numbers at the network level because there is no toll-free reciprocity. Behavior varies by cell tower and software version even on the same carrier, which is why a 1-800 call works one day and fails the next. The CMS direct line at +1 (410) 786-3000 sidesteps the routing problem because it is a standard +1 call.

What if I need Medicare help outside the SSA International 8-11am window?

For Part A and Part B enrollment issues outside the SSA International Operations window (Mon-Fri 8-11am ET), call the SSA Federal Benefits Unit at the US Embassy in Mexico City: +52 55 8526 2233, Mon-Fri 8am-12pm local time, by appointment. For beneficiary services and claims, 1-800-MEDICARE runs 24/7 but only works if your carrier routes US toll-free numbers or you dial through 001-880-633-4227 at international rates. CMS Baltimore HQ (+1 410 786-3000) answers Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm ET and handles general questions and escalations. Voicemails left on the SSA International line outside hours are returned within 5-10 business days.

Can my US-based child or relative call Medicare on my behalf from Mexico?

Yes, but only if you have an authorized representative on file with Medicare or you grant verbal consent during the call. Without prior authorization, the rep will not discuss your account with a third party. To set up an authorized representative permanently, file Form CMS-10106 (Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information) with Medicare, which takes 30-60 days to process. For one-off calls, the easier path is a three-way call: you call Medicare from Mexico (via WorldDialer at $0.04/minute or a US-inclusive plan), authorize the relative verbally, then hand off the conversation. The rep records the verbal authorization on the call.

Call Medicare from Mexico: The Number That Actually Connects

Medicare is a US program. You're in Mexico. The phone number printed on every Medicare statement — 1-800-MEDICARE — is a US toll-free line, which means your Telcel or Movistar SIM probably won't connect to it. Here's the direct number that does work, plus what to do when the 1-800 is your only option.

If you live in Lake Chapala, Mérida, San Miguel de Allende, Puerto Vallarta, or Rosarito, you've probably already learned this the hard way. You sat down to call Medicare, dialed the 800 number on your card, and got dead air. This guide is for you.

Why the 1-800 on Your Medicare Card Won't Connect from Mexico

US toll-free numbers, including 1-800-MEDICARE, don't reliably connect from Mexican carriers. Telcel, Movistar, and most prepaid SIMs (Bait, Virgin Mobile MX, Freedom Pop) either block the call entirely or fail silently after a few rings.

Here's why. Toll-free numbers are paid for by the US recipient — that's why they're "free" for the caller. The routing only works through US-only infrastructure. Mexican carriers don't have peering deals to deliver most US toll-free traffic, so the call never finds its destination.

AT&T Mexico postpaid plans sometimes connect. Prepaid usually doesn't. Behavior can even vary by tower, which is its own special torture when you're already on your third callback to Medicare this week.

The Medicare Numbers You Actually Need

To call Medicare from Mexico, dial +1 (410) 786-3000 — the CMS Baltimore headquarters line, which accepts international callers. The famous 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is toll-free and often won't connect from Telcel, Movistar, or most Mexican prepaid SIMs. For Part B enrollment or premium questions, call Social Security International at +1 (410) 965-0160 — but only between 8-11am Eastern, Monday through Friday.

Line | Number | What It Handles | Hours (ET)

CMS Baltimore HQ | +1 (410) 786-3000 | General CMS, escalations | Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm

1-800-MEDICARE | 1-800-633-4227 | Beneficiary services, claims, plan info | 24/7

Medicare TTY | 1-877-486-2048 | Hearing-impaired | 24/7

SSA International Operations | +1 (410) 965-0160 | Part A/B enrollment, premiums, ID cards | Mon-Fri 8-11am

SSA at US Embassy Mexico City | +52 55 8526 2233 | Federal Benefits Unit (by appt) | Mon-Fri 8am-12pm

Flip your Medicare Advantage or Part D card over. The member services number on the back is almost always toll-free. Same routing problem applies, same workarounds (below).

When to Call (Your Time, Not Eastern)

Medicare's 1-800 line runs 24/7, but the CMS direct line and SSA International Operations have narrow windows. SSA's is especially tight: 8-11am Eastern, Monday through Friday. From Lake Chapala or Mérida, that's 7-10am local in winter, 6-9am in summer.

Mexico abolished Daylight Saving Time in 2022, with one notable exception: Baja California still observes it. So if you're in Rosarito, your math shifts twice a year. If you're anywhere else, the gap to Eastern Time widens by an hour when the US springs forward.

Hub | Local Zone | SSA Window (Local, Winter) | CMS HQ Window (Local, Winter)

Lake Chapala / Ajijic | CST (UTC-6) | 7-10am | 7:30am-4pm

San Miguel de Allende | CST (UTC-6) | 7-10am | 7:30am-4pm

Mérida | CST (UTC-6) | 7-10am | 7:30am-4pm

Puerto Vallarta | CST (UTC-6) | 7-10am | 7:30am-4pm

Rosarito (Baja, observes DST) | PST (UTC-8) | 5-8am | 5:30am-2pm

In summer (US on EDT), shift each window one hour earlier in local time.

What It Costs to Call from Mexico (and the Alternative)

A 45-minute Medicare hold on a Telcel Amigo prepaid SIM costs roughly MXN $225 — about $13 USD. On a postpaid plan with US-inclusive minutes (AT&T Mexico ARMA, some Telcel postpaid), it's included. On a browser-based service like World Dialer, the same 45 minutes costs $1.80.

Method | Per Minute (USD) | 45-Minute Total

Telcel Amigo prepaid | $0.20-0.40 | $9-18

Movistar (no US bundle) | $0.25-0.40 | $11-18

AT&T Mexico (US-inclusive plan) | $0 (included) | $0

World Dialer | $0.04 | $1.80

Medicare hold times are what they are. If your carrier doesn't include US calling, every callback is real money. World Dialer runs in your browser at $0.04/minute, no subscription required, no app. It also connects US toll-free numbers natively — which matters in a minute.

How to Reach 1-800-MEDICARE When Your Carrier Blocks It

If your Mexican SIM won't connect to 1-800-633-4227, you have two options: dial it through the Mexican toll-free conversion code (001-880-633-4227, which routes as a paid international call), or call from a browser-based service that handles toll-free routing.

US Toll-Free Prefix | Dial from Mexico

1-800-XXX-XXXX | 001-880-XXX-XXXX

1-888-XXX-XXXX | 001-881-XXX-XXXX

1-877-XXX-XXXX | 001-882-XXX-XXXX

1-866-XXX-XXXX | 001-883-XXX-XXXX

1-855-XXX-XXXX | 001-884-XXX-XXXX

The 880-series isn't free. You pay your carrier's international rate. Your fallback if nothing else connects: the CMS HQ line at +1 (410) 786-3000 works from any Mexican carrier and any browser dialer.

What to Have Ready Before You Dial

Medicare reps verify identity before discussing any account. Have your Medicare number, Social Security number, date of birth, and the US address Medicare has on file. If you've moved within Mexico, expect questions about whether you've updated your address with SSA — Medicare doesn't recognize foreign addresses for most account purposes.

Bring patience too. Average wait time is 20-45 minutes. Have a snack, a notepad, and the claim numbers or statement dates for whatever you're calling about.

Make the Call

Now you have the numbers, the windows, and the dialing math. Time to actually reach somebody.

Need a cheaper way to call Medicare from Mexico? World Dialer lets you call any US number — toll-free or direct — for $0.04/minute right from your browser. No app to install, no subscription required, no minimums. A 45-minute hold costs $1.80.

We'll be here next time you need us.

→ Try World Dialer

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