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If you plan to move soon, you may wonder how leaving the state could affect your access to your Medicare benefits. Depending on what type of coverage you have, you may be able to keep the exact coverage no matter where you live in the United States. With some plans, you’ll need to choose new coverage. Here’s how a few common scenarios could affect your Medicare benefits.

Moving Out of State With Original Medicare

If you have Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), you can go ahead and move without worrying about whether your coverage is portable. Original Medicare doesn’t have networks, so you can use any doctor or hospital anywhere in the country that takes Medicare.

There’s a Physician Compare  service at Medicare.gov that may be helpful as you search for providers in your new home state. To keep your healthcare costs low, filter your search by doctors that accept Medicare assignment. This means that they don’t charge more than the Medicare-approved fees for specific healthcare services. You will be responsible for applicable deductibles and copayments, but your out-of-pocket costs may be lower than if you choose a doctor that does not accept assignment.

Moving Out of State With a Medicare Supplement Plan (Medigap)

You may be able to keep your current Medicare Supplement or Medigap plan if you stay enrolled in Original Medicare.

With Medigap coverage, you can see any provider that accepts Medicare, no matter where you live inside the United States.

You may choose a different Medigap plan offered in your new home state if it works better for you. However, if you don’t have guaranteed issue rights , you may be rejected or pay higher premiums for coverage.

Medigap can’t deny you coverage or charge you more due to a pre-existing health condition with guaranteed-issue rights.

Moving Out of State With a Medicare SELECT Plan

If a medicare SELECT plan currently covers you, and you plan to move out of state, you’ll no longer have easy access to your network of healthcare providers. If you’ve had the SELECT plan for at least six months, you can choose a new Medigap plan from your insurer so long as it has the same or less coverage than your SELECT plan.

Your guaranteed issue rights also allow you to buy any Medigap Plan A, B, C, F, K, or L. if you qualified for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, you could select Plan D or G instead of Plan C or F.

Moving Out of State With a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) or Medicare Part D

Medicare Advantage plans and Part D plans impose specific service areas. If your move out of state takes you away from your plan’s service area, you’ll have to choose a new Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage plan. To get help with the process, call 1-800-MEDICARE.

If you aren’t thrilled with your Medicare Advantage plan, you could use your move as an opportunity to switch to Original Medicare.

Suppose you had Advantage coverage and moved outside of the coverage area. In that case, you have automatic guaranteed issue rights that allow you to make the switch right away and help you avoid medical underwriting.

You have a window of time that stretches from two months before you move to 63 days after you move to decide whether to switch back to Original Medicare, choose a new Advantage or Part D coverage plan, or purchase a different Medigap Plan.

FAQs About Moving Out of State With Medicare

Can I see a doctor in another state if I have Medicare?

In most cases, you can see a doctor that works with Medicare no matter where you are in the United States. If you have an Advantage Plan, you’ll need to receive healthcare services within the defined service area of your plan to get coverage, however.

Will I lose my Medicare coverage if I decide to move out of the United States?

Not necessarily. Medicare recipients can purchase private health insurance or enroll in their new country’s public health plan to receive medical care abroad. If you decide to return to the United States, you’ll get Medicare Part A (hospital insurance).

You can pay for Part B benefits while you are out of the country, or you can give up those benefits while you are away to avoid paying premiums. If you terminate Part B coverage and decide to return, you’ll pay a 10% penalty for each 12-month period you were eligible for Part B and were out of the country.

You can re-enroll in Part B from January through March. Your benefits will not begin until July.

If I move to another state, can I keep my Medicare Supplement?

Maybe. Medicare recipients can choose from ten standard Medigap options. There are no Medigap plans available in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Massachusetts. If you move within the service area of your current Medicare Supplement plan, you can keep the same plan. Otherwise, you’ll have to choose a different plan. In some states, Medigap is more expensive than in others. The three states where Medigap coverage is most expensive are New York (Plan G is $270 per month), Maine (Plan G is $205 per month), and Connecticut (Plan G is $200 per month).

How long do I have to change my Medicare plan if I move out of state?

You have at least two full months to make changes to your Medicare plan. If you alert the coverage provider of your plans to move before you change residences, you have one month before you move and two months after you move to may the necessary changes to your Medicare coverage. If you wait to let your plan know until after you’ve moved, you have the month during which your move occurs plus the two months after to make changes to your coverage.

Do I need to let Medicare know I moved?

Yes. Whether you leave the state or move down the street, you must let Medicare know if your address changes by contacting the Social Security Administration.

How to Let Social Security Know About Your Move

If you plan to move, it’s crucial to update your mailing address with Medicare. You can do so by visiting the Social Security website , logging into your My Social Security account, and updating your address.

You can also call Social Security 1-800-772-1213 (TTY users, call 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, between 7 AM and 7 PM.

If you are a former railroad employee, you can update your mailing address by contacting the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) . Call 1-877-772-5772 (TTY users, call 1-312-751-4701), Monday through Friday, between 9 AM and 3:30 PM.

If you have Medicare coverage and plan to move out of state, much depends on your current plan’s service area. If there isn’t one (like with Plan A and Plan B) you just have to let the Social Security Administration know that you plan to move and give them your new mailing address.

Your other Medicare coverage (Part D, Medigap, SELECT, and Advantage) may require you to conduct a bit of research to find out if you’ll need coverage. If you must change plans, be sure to research the options in your new state carefully. Make sure you understand the limits of your coverage and your out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and copays. If you need help, contact the SSA directly to talk with a representative that can walk you through your options in your new state.