Will Moving to Another State Affect My Medicare Coverage?

Medicare is a federal healthcare program for people age 65 and over, as well as those who have certain health conditions or disabilities.

Because it’s a federal program, Medicare provides services in every part of the country. It doesn’t matter which state you live in — your basic Medicare coverage will stay the same.

Although your Medicare coverage won’t end or change when you move, you’ll often need to find new healthcare professionals who participate in Medicare. Doctors must accept Medicare’s payment terms and meet certain requirements to participate in the program.

Regardless of where you live, participating doctors and healthcare professionals will submit a bill to Medicare for the services they provide to you.

Transferring Original Medicare

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) can be used anywhere in the country. That includes all 50 states and several U.S. territories, including:

• American Samoa
• Guam
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Puerto Rico
• U.S. Virgin Islands

No matter where you live in the United States or these territories, you can receive Medicare Part A and Part B. This means your basic inpatient and outpatient care will be paid for through the original Medicare program.

Your coverage for Medicare parts A and B will not change if you move out of state. Just be sure that the doctor you choose after you move participates in the Medicare program.

To find out how to connect with a local Medicare office once you’ve moved to a new state, call 800-MEDICARE or click here.

There are some optional plans you can purchase to add onto or even replace original Medicare.

Transferring Medicare Advantage

You may choose to buy a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, which combines the services of Original Medicare with extras like prescription drug coverage, dental and vision care, and more.

Available plan options and costs will vary based on the state where you live and the companies that sell plans there.

Generally, once you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you will need to keep it for the entire calendar year. However, if you move, you may be eligible to change your plan during a Special Enrollment Period.

To make sure your Medicare coverage isn’t disrupted when you move, you can take the following steps if you have a Medicare Advantage plan:

1. Contact your current plan before your move.
2. Ask if they offer plans in the state or area you’re moving to.
3. Ask about any changes that might be made to your plan once you move: Will you pay an out-of-network fee? Will your premium cost more? How will you find a new doctor or pharmacy?
4. Decide whether you want to keep your current plan when you move or if you need to find a new one.
5. Find out from your plan whether it’s best to switch to a new plan before you move or after.
6. If you need to find a new plan, start researching available options in your new location.

Transferring Medicare Part D

Like Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans are optional and are sold through private insurance companies.

The available plan options and costs will vary based on where you live, and similarly to Part C, there is a special enrollment period during which you can switch your Part D plan to your new local option.

If you currently have a stand-alone Part D plan, follow the steps listed above for Medicare Advantage to make sure you can transfer your coverage to your new area of residence.

Transferring Medigap

Medicare supplement plans, or Medigap, are optional plans you can add to Original Medicare to help cover your share of medical costs.

If you have Medigap and plan to move out of state, you can keep your policy no matter where you live, as long as you remain on original Medicare and don’t switch to a Medicare Advantage plan.

If you do decide to change your Medigap policy once you’ve moved to a new state, you may have to pay more for the new policy. These cost differences can depend on a number of factors, such as:

• your eligibility for the new policy
• the plan options you choose
• the rates in your new area of residence

You can find your options for changing your Medigap coverage here.

Moving is one of the life changes that qualify for a special enrollment period. We’ll explain how this works in more detail below.

If you move outside your current plan’s service area

If you move out of your current Medicare Advantage plan’s service area, you can switch to a new plan in the month before or within 2 months after you move.

If you wait until you’ve moved to notify your current plan provider, you then have the month you notify the plan plus an additional 2 months to switch to a new plan.

If you move to a new area and your plan is still available, but there are new options

If you’re moving to a new area that offers plans you couldn’t get before, notify your plan provider of your move. You’ll have the month before you move plus 2 months after you move to make a change.

If you wait to notify your plan until after you’ve moved, you’ll be able to make changes to your existing plan in the month you notify your plan plus an additional 2 months after.

Making Medigap plan changes

For Medigap plans, enrollment periods are a little different. It’s best to buy a Medigap policy during the 6-month period immediately after you first enroll in Medicare Part B.

You may be able to buy a Medigap plan after that, but there are no guarantees that an insurance company will sell you a policy.

Even if you’re able to get a Medigap policy after the initial enrollment period, you may have to pay more.

If you’re transitioning into or out of inpatient care

If you’ve been hospitalized as an inpatient and move out of state after discharge, your Medicare benefits won’t be disrupted.

Hospitalization and inpatient care are covered under Medicare Part A, which is part of Original Medicare and is required to be a part of every Medicare Advantage plan.

While you may still need to switch your Medicare Advantage plan once you move, your Medicare Part A benefits will be covered either way.

Do I need to let Medicare know if I move?

It’s important to change your address with the Social Security Administration, which manages Medicare. You can do this online or by calling 800-772-1213.

How does Medicare work if you live in two states?

If you split your residence between homes in two states, Original Medicare should apply in both locations as long as you go to medical providers covered by Medicare. When it comes to Medical Advantage or Part D, your coverage depends on he specific plan and on the pharmacy that your plan contracts with.

Can I see a doctor in another state with Medicare?

If you’re visiting another state, you can get medical attention anywhere in the U.S. under Parts A and B as long as the provider accepts Medicare. You’ll need to call your Medicare Advantage provider and look into your Part D benefits to see how you can use them while traveling out of state, as coverage may depend on the plan and the specific pharmacies in your location.

Learn more: Can you use your medicare benefits in another state?

Does Medicare cover out-of-state emergencies?

Original Medicare should offer coverage for emergency care out of state as long as you’re within the U.S. Your Medicare Advantage coverage for emergencies may depend on your specific plan.

With a few exceptions, Medicare won’t pay for emergency care outside the U.S.

If you move from one state to another and have Original Medicare, your benefits won’t change. However, you may need to find new healthcare providers who participate in Medicare.

If you have a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plan, you may need to find a new plan. This will depend on whether your plan is available in your new location.

If your plan isn’t offered in your new home state, you should be able to sign up for a new plan without penalty through a special enrollment period.

Medigap benefits, however, don’t change from state to state. You can keep your Medigap plan as long as you continue using Original Medicare instead of a Medicare Advantage plan.