January 12th 2024
By Ari Parker
Updating your address for Medicare is important for your healthcare access. The process is easy—learn how to change your address in no time.
There are a lot of things that can change in your life when you retire. One common change is where you live. While many people choose to stay in their homes and age in place, many others choose to downsize or move into a retirement community. If you do move, changing your address for Medicare is important to maintain proper coverage. It may seem like a minor detail, but forgetting to update your current address could cost you time and money.
It’s important to update your address for Medicare.
Moving may allow or require a change in your Medicare coverage.
You can change your address for Medicare by updating your information online through your Social Security account, calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778), or contacting your local Social Security office.
Moving is stressful. We recommend using a moving checklist to make sure you don’t miss an important step during the hustle and bustle of it all! One of the important tasks that some people miss is changing their address for Medicare, which is important for a number of reasons.
The specific set of Medicare plans available to you depends on where you live. If you move within the same county, you’ll have access to the same plans. If you move to another county, however, you may be able to choose new Medicare coverage.
You’re eligible for a Special Enrollment Period if you do one of the following:
Move to a new address that isn’t in your plan’s service area
Move to a new address that has additional plan options
If you move to an area where your Medicare Advantage plan isn’t offered, you can choose to receive coverage from Original Medicare and join a Medicare Supplement plan. This qualifies you for what’s called “guaranteed issue rights” where an insurance company can’t deny you a Medicare Supplement policy. Outside of guaranteed issue periods, insurance companies can require medical underwriting.
Changing your address for Medicare ensures that you receive all the essential communication promptly. Especially in light of a move with new doctors and healthcare facilities, you'll want to easily view updates, notifications, new Medicare cards, and billing information.
Whether it’s an emergency or routine check-up, having your correct address on file ensures that you can access healthcare services seamlessly. What’s more, changing your address for Medicare helps healthcare providers locate you should they need to get in touch.
An outdated address can be dangerous for identity fraud. Updating your address is a good way to protect your personal information and prevent unauthorized access to your healthcare records.
The process of changing your Medicare address is pretty straightforward. You’ll have to get in touch with Social Security in one of three ways:
Update your information via your account on the Social Security website. This is the fastest way to notify Medicare of an address change.
Call the Social Security number at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.
Get in touch with your local Social Security office. You can use the Social security office locator online.
If you need to update other personal information like your phone number or email address, you can do so through your Medicare account.
You may wonder why you need to contact Social Security for Medicare information. Medicare works directly with the Social Security Administration to maintain records. Even if you don’t receive Social Security benefits, you’ll still have to contact the SSA to update your address for Medicare purposes.
If you have more questions about updating Medicare information or other Medicare-related inquiries, our licensed Advisors are here to help! Schedule a chat today or call us at 855-900-2427.
