What Happens to Your Medicare Advantage Plan If You Move to Another State?
It’s common to relocate during retirement, whether to be closer to family or to enjoy a sunnier climate. While moving can be exciting, it also involves some logistical challenges, particularly regarding your healthcare coverage. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you might wonder what happens if you move to an area outside your plan’s network.
In this blog, we’ll discuss your options for Medicare coverage when moving to a different state and outline the steps you need to take to ensure continuous coverage.
Key takeaways:
If you move to another state, you’ll qualify for a Special Enrollment Period that allows you to change your coverage.
If you move outside your plan’s service area, you can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.
If you move to an area with new plan options, you can switch to a new Medicare Advantage plan.
How moving states can affect your Medicare Advantage coverage
Medicare Advantage plan availability varies from one county to another. Furthermore, plan networks are local. So, whether you’re moving within the same state or to a different state, your Medicare Advantage coverage could no longer work for you. Additionally, there may be other options available. For these reasons, you’re usually granted a Special Enrollment Period when you move. Keep in mind that if you move within the same county, you're not eligible for a Special Enrollment Period.
Why plan networks matter
While Original Medicare allows you to see any doctor who accepts Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans use provider networks. You usually only receive full coverage if you see a doctor within your plan’s network. When you move, a plan’s network may no longer be applicable. Your plan is useless if you drive for hours to get to in-network doctors! That’s why moving usually triggers a Special Enrollment Period.
How plan availability impacts your coverage
Plan availability can vary a lot between states and counties. For example, there are 394 Medicare Advantage plans in Florida. While Hillsborough County, FL has 63 Medicare Advantage plans available (the highest of any county in Florida), Monroe County, FL has 6.
If you move from Hillsborough County, FL to Monroe County, FL, there’s a good chance that your plan is no longer available to you. If this is true, you can switch to one of the plans available in your new county. If you move from Monroe County to Hillsborough County, however, you’ll have a lot more options to choose from and can shop around to see if a newly available plan fits your needs better!
What to do with your Medicare Advantage plan if you move
If you move to a new county, you usually qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. During a Special Enrollment Period, you can change your Medicare Advantage plan.
Let’s explore a couple of common moving scenarios and your options in those situations.
If you move to an area outside of your plan’s service area
Because plan availability varies by county, it’s common for your new home to be outside your current plan’s service area. If this is the case, you can either enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan or switch back to Original Medicare.
You can choose to tell your plan before or after you move. The window of time you have to switch coverage depends on when you notify your plan of the move. If you notify your plan before you move, you can switch plans up to one month before your move and two months after. If you notify your plan after you move, you can switch coverage the month you notify your plan and two months after.
Important note: Medicare Advantage members will be enrolled in Original Medicare and disenrolled from their old plan if they don’t join a new plan within the specified time.
If you move to an area that has additional plan options available
If you move to a new county or state that has Medicare Advantage plans that weren’t available to you at your old address, you can enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan.
If you notify your plan before you move, you can switch plans up to one month before your move and two months after the move. If you notify your plan after you move, you can switch coverage the month you notify your plan and two months after that.
Considering your Medicare options in a new state
Moving can be hectic! That’s why we created this senior moving checklist.
With so many important steps, the last thing you want to worry about is your healthcare coverage. Let us handle the Medicare research so you can focus on settling into your new neighborhood. A Chapter Medicare Advisor can assist you in understanding your Medicare options in your new area, comparing plans, and enrolling in one that suits your healthcare needs best. Reach out today at 855-900-2427 or schedule a time to chat.