The Essentials: Medicare and Inter-State Relocation

• Original Medicare (Parts A & B): Offers full national portability. You can visit any healthcare provider across the United States that accepts Medicare without changing your enrollment.
• Medicare Advantage & Part D: Tied directly to local geographic service areas. Crossing state or county lines usually requires you to select a new plan available in your new location.
• Special Enrollment Period (SEP): Triggers automatically when you move outside your plan’s service area. You generally have a window spanning from one month before your move to two months after your move to adjust your coverage.
• Medigap Policies: Standardized federally, but monthly premiums adjust based on your new zip code. Switching policies in a new state may subject you to medical underwriting unless guaranteed issue rights apply.
• Primary Action Step: Update your primary contact address with the Social Security Administration first, as they manage the master address database for Medicare.