You should notify Medicare when you move, whether you are on Original Medicare, have a Medigap plan, have a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D plan. Contact Social Security and update your address. This can be done over-the-phone. That will update your Medicare, but you may also need to update your insurance plan(s) too.
How long do I have to change my Medicare plan(s) after I move?
When you move, that grants you a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) which allows you to make changes to your plan(s). Different rules afford different types of changes allowed. For our purposes we will only cover the situation where you change where you live and discuss what options you may or may not have. Medicare stays with you when you move, but the steps you'll take to keep your Medicare active will depend on which type of plan you have.
First you need to notify your plan of your move. If you notify your plan before you move, your chance to switch plans begins the month before the month you move and continues for 2 full months after you move. If you notify your plan after you move, your chance to switch plans begins the month you tell your plan, plus 2 more full months. Below are the circumstances and options.
You moved to a new address that isn’t in your plan’s service area
- You can switch to a new Medicare Advantage Plan or Part D Plan
- Or, you can enroll into Original Medicare
Your new address is in your plans service area, but there are new options for you at your new location
- You can switch to a new Medicare Advantage Plan or Part D Plan
- Or, you can enroll into Original Medicare
I moved back to the United States after living outside the country
- You can join a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D plan or apply for a Medigap Plan.
You just moved into, currently live in, or just moved out of an institution (like a skilled nursing facility or long-term care hospital)
- Join a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
- Switch from your current plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
- Drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare
- Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage.
You were released from jail
- Join a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans have specific provider networks based on location, so if you're moving you’ll need to find out what plans are sold in the area you're moving to.
If you have a Medigap plan, you generally can transfer your plan to a new state, but your monthly payment may change. If your plan is not offered in your service area by your provider, that puts you into a SEP which allows you to get a similar plan. You can’t keep your current Medigap plan in certain states as some states have their own Medigap plans. If this is the case, you’ll have the chance to apply for a new Medigap plan. Your new Medigap insurer is required to accept you and cover your preexisting health conditions. The company cannot charge you more due to any preexisting conditions. Medigap plans do not pay for prescriptions, so unless you have other drug coverage, you should consider adding a Medicare Part D plan to help with those costs.
You can keep Medicare if you move outside the U.S., but in most cases, you won't be able to use your benefits in a foreign country. If you are moving out of the country temporarily or plan to return to the U.S. frequently, you may want to keep your Medicare and use it when you visit the U.S. or move back permanently.