How does moving out of State affect my Medicare Plan?

What happens to Part D, Medicare Advantage in a move?

When you move out of a Part D or Medicare Advantage Plan’s service area, you should notify your plan.  If your plan learns about your relocation without you notifying them first, it can cancel your coverage.  Medicare Advantage Plans’ service areas are typically based on your county. Part D service areas can be statewide or can extend to parts of neighboring states.  Your best bet is to search by your zip code.

For both Part D and Medicare Advantage, moving out of a plan’s service area qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) of at least two months to get a new plan.   You can use this SEP to switch to a Medicare Advantage Plan in the service area, or back to Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement (with guaranteed issue rights) and a Part D Drug Plan.  The SEP depends if you notify the plan before or after the move.

• Before you move, your SEP begins the month before you move and ends two months after you move.

• After you move, your SEP begins from the time you notify the plan and continues for the next two months. 

Note: You may also qualify if you move within your same State but a different County.

What happens to my Medigap when I move?

You usually don’t have to switch Medicare Supplements if you move, but you should notify your plan. Some insurers let you keep the rate based on the State where you originally applied for Medigap. Others may change your premiums to match their rates in a different ZIP code. Medigap Consumer Protections vary from state to state. For example, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts allow you to buy a Medigap policy anytime regardless of your health. They may have a waiting period, however, on pre-existing conditions if you have not had continuous coverage with another Medigap policy or a Medicare Advantage Plan.

An important factor: Insurers in most states can reject you or charge more because of pre-existing conditions unless you qualify for guaranteed issue rights to buy specific Medigap policies. You could qualify if your insurer ceases doing business or if you move out of a Medicare Advantage Plan’s service area and decide to switch to original Medicare, for example. If you already have a Medigap policy, insurers in most states aren’t required to offer you a new one just because you move. If you choose to apply for a new policy, you’ll probably have to answer health questions.