Can I use Medicare across the border in Mexico for prescriptions?

Why Part D doesn't work in Mexico

Medicare.gov is direct: Medicare drug plans don't cover prescriptions purchased outside the U.S. A Mexican pharmacy isn't in any Part D network and can't bill your plan, even if the medicine is the same one you take at home. Because the drug isn't covered, your spending there doesn't count toward your plan's deductible or the yearly out-of-pocket cap of $2,100 in 2026.

Bringing medicines back across the bridge

People in El Paso, Laredo, Eagle Pass and the Rio Grande Valley cross often, and federal rules apply every time:

• Declare all medicines to CBP when you enter the U.S.
• Keep medicines in their original containers, with the prescription information on them, and carry your prescription or a doctor's note.
• Bring no more than about a 90-day supply, which CBP uses as a rule of thumb for personal use.
• Know the FDA's position: in most cases, it's illegal for people to import drugs into the U.S. for personal use, and the FDA doesn't allow personal importation of unapproved versions of FDA-approved drugs. Controlled substances, such as some pain and anxiety medicines, carry extra federal rules.

Ways to lower drug costs on the U.S. side

• The Part D cap. Once you reach $2,100 in covered drug costs in 2026, you pay nothing more for covered drugs that year. Our drug cap calculator shows how fast you'd get there.
• Extra Help lowers Part D costs for people with limited income and resources. Apply through Social Security.
• The right plan for your drugs. Texas has 10 standalone Part D plans and 214 Medicare Advantage plans in 2027, and drug lists differ. Compare plans every fall.
• Generic and lower-cost alternatives. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Get help

A licensed insurance agent with Benefits Life can check which plans from the companies they work with cover your medicines and pharmacies, at no cost to you, at (512) 265-6565, TTY 711. You can also see plans in your ZIP code. See Medicare Part D in Texas.

Related questions

Sources

• Medicare.gov — Travel outside the U.S. (Part D and drugs bought abroad)
• FDA — Personal importation
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Prohibited and restricted items (medications)
• Medicare.gov — Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help

Frequently asked questions

Does what I spend in Mexico count toward the Part D cap?

No. Only covered drugs from your plan's pharmacies count toward Part D costs. In 2026, Part D caps what you pay for covered drugs at $2,100 for the year, and covered insulin at $35 a month.

Can I bring medicine back from Mexico?

Be careful. CBP says to travel with your own medicine prescribed by a licensed doctor, in its original container, to declare all medicines, and that a 90-day supply is the usual rule of thumb. The FDA says that in most cases it's illegal for people to import drugs into the U.S. for personal use, and controlled substances carry stricter rules.

Will Medicare pay for a medicine I started taking in Mexico?

Only if it's a drug your Part D plan covers, prescribed by a doctor who can prescribe it in the U.S., and filled at a U.S. pharmacy your plan accepts. Ask your plan how to request coverage, and talk with your U.S. doctor.

Are there programs that lower drug costs for Texans with limited income?

Yes. Extra Help, from Social Security, lowers Part D premiums and copays. If you qualify for a Texas Medicare Savings Program, you also get Extra Help.

Medicare in your Texas county

Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Harris · Dallas · Tarrant · Bexar · Travis · Collin · Denton · Fort Bend · Hidalgo · El Paso · Montgomery · Williamson · Cameron · Brazoria · Bell · Galveston · Nueces · Lubbock · Hays · Webb · McLennan · Jefferson · Brazos · Smith · Ellis · Johnson · Comal · Kaufman · Guadalupe · Midland · All 254 counties →