10 Medicare Facts Retirees Need To Consider Before Moving to a New State

Those who dream of retiring to a new state have a lot of adventures to anticipate. But to protect your retirement plan, you must prepare for potential changes to Medicare coverage.

Here are some things to keep in mind about Medicare as you move to a new area.

Original Medicare includes Medicare Part A (hospital coverage) and Medicare Part B (other care, such as doctor visits and outpatient services). For the most part, people with Original Medicare coverage should not see it change in their new state.

You will probably need to switch primary care providers to someone in your new area, but other aspects of coverage will stay the same. You will still pay the same monthly premium, retain the same out-of-pocket maximum, and have the same coverage for services.

While your care and coverage won't change once you move states, you still need to update your address as soon as possible. Otherwise, you could miss crucial communication sent by mail.

To update your address, log on to your Social Security account via the Social Security Administration (SSA) website. 

While you can update forms of communication such as your phone number or email address through Medicare's website, your physical address can only be changed through the SSA.

That is true even if you aren't currently receiving Social Security benefits.

While Original Medicare coverage doesn't vary between states, the same can't be said of Medigap coverage.

Private insurance companies offer Medigap policies, which cover gaps in Medicare coverage. Policy choices sometimes are based on where you live.

If you currently have a Medigap policy, double-check with your current provider to find out if it will cover services in your new area as well. If it doesn't, you will have to explore new options.

In most cases, you can only change your Medicare plans during the yearly open enrollment period.

However, if your out-of-state move will cause you to lose current Medicare Advantage coverage, you qualify for a special enrollment period (SEP). This will allow you to find coverage in your new home.

Moving to a new state offers you a window of time to switch Medicare Advantage plans even if the move occurs outside of the standard open enrollment period. However, you must opt into a new region-specific plan within a specific time frame.

If you tell your plan about your intention to move before you leave, you can switch plans during the period that lasts from the month before you move to two months after you move.

If you tell your plan about the move after it happens, you can switch during the month you disclose this fact and for two months after.

If you don't join a new plan within this time frame, you will be enrolled in Original Medicare.

Finding a new Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, or Medigap plan can be challenging, but Medicare's Plan Finder tool can help.

Log on to your Medicare account to find and compare plans in your new area. Or, simply enter your new ZIP code on Medicare's website to start searching.

Unlike Medicare Part A and Part B, Medicare Advantage plans are region-specific. Odds are good that you won't be able to maintain your same Medicare Advantage plan if you leave one state and relocate to another.

Check with your current private insurance carrier to find out if you can maintain coverage once you move. If you can't, take advantage of the special enrollment period to find a new provider in your new home.

Medicare Part D helps cover the costs of prescription drugs. This is an optional insurance coverage option that you get through private insurance companies. That means plan options and coverage vary from state to state.

As with Medicare Advantage, moving will open a special enrollment period so you can find a Medicare Part D plan in your new area.

Are you hoping to split your time between a beach house in Florida and a home in the northern part of the country? If you have Original Medicare, you'll be insured wherever you are in the U.S.

If you have Medicare Advantage, talk to your insurance carrier to find out if it offers any out-of-state coverage.

If you're on vacation and need emergency care, your Original Medicare plan should cover your medical bills as long as you're in the U.S.

If you have Medicare Advantage, you'll need to check your policy to find out the plan's rules for out-of-state emergency care.

Understanding how Medicare works is important as you prepare for retirement.

So, get familiar with your new state's Medicare coverage before you move so you aren't hit with any surprises as you settle in.