What happens to my Medicare coverage if I move to another state?

If you move anywhere within the United States, you won’t lose your original Medicare coverage as long as your new health care facility, doctor or other provider accepts Medicare. But if you have Part D prescription coverage, a Medicare Advantage plan or Medigap supplemental insurance from a private company, the rules change.

Make yourself a note to update your mailing address with Medicare once you’ve moved, so bills, correspondence, your Medicare Summary Notice and other statements go to the right address. To do this, you’ll need to contact the Social Security Administration even if you don’t receive Social Security benefits; SSA handles all Medicare enrollment issues.  

You can update your information in your My Social Security account, call 800-772-1213 or contact a Social Security office. If you get Railroad Retirement Board benefits, call 877-772-5772. Take this time to update other personal information, such as your phone number or email address, in your online Medicare account.

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

Timing is important. If you move out of a Part D or Medicare Advantage plan’s service area, you’ll have to switch plans or face losing coverage. You only have a small window of time.  

If you move without telling your Part D or Medicare Advantage plan, you may not find in-network providers and pharmacies in your new area. The plan could learn about your relocation through the U.S. Postal Service or Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. If this happens, a plan can remove you from its roster, so you should notify your plan of any changes in case you have to find new coverage.

Part D service areas typically are statewide or can extend to parts of neighboring states. Medicare Advantage plans’ service areas vary by county. Use the Medicare Plan Finder to search for Part D and Medicare Advantage plans in your new area by 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 may also qualify if you move within your plan's service area but there are different plan options in your new location.  

• 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. 

• If you move out of your plan’s service area and don’t notify the plan, it can drop you. You may get a two-month SEP depending on how much time has passed since you relocated.  

You can also switch Part D or Medicare Advantage plans during open enrollment, which runs each year from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 for coverage starting Jan. 1.