Moving on Medicare: What Transfers, What Stays Behind

When you move to another state, your Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) travels with you across the U.S. However, local plans like Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Part D (prescription drug coverage) generally do not transfer and require new enrollment in your new service area.

Key takeaways

• Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) works nationwide, covering hospital and doctor care wherever you live in the United States.
• Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Part D (prescription drug plans) are local and generally do not move with you.
• Moving to a new service area qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to choose new local plans.
• Medigap policies have state-specific rules and may require new applications with medical underwriting.
• It is crucial to plan your new coverage before your move to avoid gaps in prescription drug or health coverage.

What Medicare Parts Move With You?

Original Medicare, which includes Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance), covers your care anywhere in the United States. This means if you have Original Medicare, your Part A and Part B coverage automatically travels with you when you move to a new state. You do not need to take any special action for these parts to continue working.

Part A helps cover inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care. Most people do not pay a monthly premium for Part A if they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters (10 years) while working. The 2026 Part A deductible is $1,736 per benefit period. This deductible applies per benefit period, not per year. A benefit period starts when you are admitted as an inpatient and ends when you have been out of the hospital for 60 consecutive days.

Part B helps cover doctor visits, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services. The standard monthly premium for Part B in 2026 is $202.90. This amount is set annually and can change. People with higher incomes may pay an extra monthly charge called an income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA). The 2026 annual deductible for Part B is $283. After you meet this deductible, Medicare typically pays 80% of the Medicare-approved amount for most covered services.

If you have Original Medicare, you can see any doctor or hospital nationwide that accepts Medicare. This flexibility is one of its main benefits, especially for those who travel often or move states. However, Original Medicare does not cover most routine dental, vision, hearing, or long-term care services. Remember, while your Part A and Part B travel, you will still need to consider your prescription drug coverage.

What Medicare Plans Don't Transfer?

Medicare plans that are offered by private companies, such as Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, are typically tied to specific geographic service areas. This means these plans generally do not move with you to a new state or even a new county within the same state.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, it is likely that your current plan will not be available in your new location. Medicare Advantage plans combine your Part A and Part B coverage, and often include Part D drug coverage and extra benefits like vision, dental, or gym memberships. These plans operate within defined networks of doctors and hospitals. If you move outside your plan's service area, you will need to choose a new plan that serves your new address. You will also need to ensure that your new doctors are part of the plan's network.

Similarly, your Medicare Part D prescription drug plan is also local. Part D plans help cover the cost of prescription drugs. These plans have specific formularies (lists of covered drugs) and pharmacies that they contract with. The maximum deductible for a Part D plan in 2026 is $615, though some plans may have a lower or no deductible. Once your out-of-pocket drug costs reach $2,100 in 2026, your plan will pay 100% of covered drugs for the rest of the year. If you move outside your Part D plan's service area, you will need to find a new plan to assure your prescriptions are covered.

Every Medicare drug plan must offer the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which allows you to spread out-of-pocket drug costs over monthly bills for the remaining months of the calendar year. There is no cost threshold to qualify, and this can result in a $0 payment at the pharmacy counter for some individual prescriptions. It does not lower your total drug costs; it changes when you pay them.

Your current plan cannot assure the same network or services when you move outside its designated area. This is why you must take action to secure new coverage for these parts of Medicare.

This table highlights the key difference in portability. Original Medicare offers broad access to care across the country, while private plans are much more localized. This makes planning important when you are moving.

How Does Moving Affect My Medigap Policy?

Medigap policies, also known as Medicare Supplement Insurance, help pay some of the costs that Original Medicare does not cover, such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. These policies are sold by private insurance companies and work with Original Medicare. While Medigap policies can be used with any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare, their availability and rules can vary by state.

When you move to a new state, your existing Medigap policy might not be available or might have different pricing. Some states require Medigap insurers to offer policies to all residents, regardless of health, while others do not. This means you might face medical underwriting when applying for a new Medigap policy in your new state. Medical underwriting allows the insurance company to consider your health status when deciding whether to sell you a policy and how much to charge. If you have health conditions, this could make it more challenging or expensive to get a new Medigap policy.

There are specific situations where you have a guaranteed-issue right, which means an insurer must sell you a Medigap policy without medical underwriting. However, moving on its own is not typically one of these situations under federal law. An important exception applies if you are moving from a Medicare Advantage plan that is leaving Medicare or your service area. In this specific case, you have a federal guaranteed-issue right to purchase certain Medigap plans (Plans A, B, D, G, or Plans C and F if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020) without medical underwriting.

This guaranteed-issue right is different from the one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period. That period starts the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B. During this 6-month window, an insurer must sell you any Medigap policy it offers, regardless of your health. If you are outside this initial Open Enrollment Period and do not have a guaranteed-issue right, you may have limited options or face higher costs. Some states have additional consumer protections, like a "birthday rule," which allows you to switch Medigap plans each year without medical underwriting. You can learn more about specific situations by checking out articles like "The Medigap Birthday Rule: Switching Plans Without Health Questions."

What Enrollment Period Do I Get When I Move?

Moving to a new address that is not in your current plan's service area triggers a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). This SEP allows you to make changes to your Medicare coverage outside of the standard enrollment periods, such as the Annual Open Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31).

This crucial SEP typically starts the month before your move, includes the month of your move, and extends for two full months after you move. For example, if you move on July 15th, your SEP runs from June 1st to September 30th. This window gives you enough time to research and choose new plans for your new location. Your new plan coverage usually begins the first day of the month after you enroll, or the first day of the month after your current plan's coverage ends, depending on when you enroll.

During this moving SEP, you can generally do the following:

• Switch from your current Medicare Advantage plan to a new Medicare Advantage plan in your new service area.
• Switch from your current Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare, and also enroll in a new Part D plan.
• Enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan if you currently have Original Medicare.
• Enroll in a new Part D plan or switch from one Part D plan to another.

It is vital to use this SEP to enroll in new plans before your old coverage ends. If you do not choose a new plan, you could face gaps in your coverage, particularly for prescription drugs or comprehensive Medicare Advantage benefits. Make sure you understand the rules for when your old plan coverage ends and when your new plan coverage begins to avoid any unexpected costs. Planning ahead is key to a smooth transition and continuous coverage.

What Happens If I Don't Get New Coverage?

Failing to enroll in new Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage when you move could lead to significant issues, including coverage gaps and permanent late enrollment penalties. These penalties are designed to encourage timely enrollment in Medicare parts that have associated premiums.

For Medicare Part B, if you do not sign up when you are first eligible and do not have other creditable coverage, you could face a late enrollment penalty. This penalty is an extra 10% added to your monthly Part B premium for each full 12-month period you could have had Part B but did not enroll. For instance, if you delay Part B enrollment by 36 months, your premium would be 30% higher. If the 2026 standard Part B premium is $202.90, a 10% penalty would add about $20.29 to your monthly premium. This penalty is applied for as long as you have Part B.

For Medicare Part D, a late enrollment penalty applies if you go 63 days or more in a row without Medicare drug coverage or other creditable drug coverage after your Initial Enrollment Period ends. This penalty is 1% of the national base beneficiary premium for each full month you delay enrollment, rounded to the nearest $0.10. The 2026 national base beneficiary premium is $38.99. So, if you went 10 months without creditable drug coverage, your penalty would be 10% of $38.99, which is about $3.90 added to your monthly premium. This penalty is permanent and applied for as long as you have Medicare drug coverage. People who get Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy) do not pay a Part D late enrollment penalty.

Moving Checklist

• Notify your current Medicare Advantage and Part D plans of your move.
• Research new Medicare Advantage and Part D plans in your new location.
• Understand your Special Enrollment Period (SEP) dates.
• Enroll in new plans to avoid gaps in coverage.
• Review Medigap options if you have Original Medicare.

These penalties can add up over time, making your Medicare coverage more expensive than it needs to be. It is always a good idea to plan ahead and ensure continuous coverage. You can find more information about Part D penalties in articles like "Medicare Part D: Avoiding Late Enrollment Penalties."

Where Can I Find State-Specific Medicare Help?

Navigating Medicare options when moving to a new state can be complex due to the varying local rules and plan offerings. Fortunately, there are resources available to help you understand your choices and make informed decisions.

Each state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). SHIPs offer free, unbiased counseling to people with Medicare and their families. Their counselors are trained volunteers who can help you understand your options, compare plans available in your new area, and guide you through the enrollment process. They can provide personalized assistance based on your specific needs and the rules of your new state. This includes help with understanding your rights, comparing Part D plans, and assisting with appeals.

To find your new state's SHIP, you can visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. They can connect you with local resources and provide contact information for your new state's program. For example, if you are moving to Texas, you might look for "Medicare in Texas: Your Local Options and Resources" on this site. This can help you identify resources specific to your new home.

Additionally, licensed insurance agents who specialize in Medicare plans can also provide valuable assistance. They can help you compare plans from various carriers in your new service area and explain how different plans might fit your healthcare needs and budget. Remember, their services are typically at no cost to you, as they are compensated by the insurance plans. These agents can offer insights into plan networks, formularies, and extra benefits available in your new location.

Utilizing these resources can help ensure a smooth transition of your Medicare coverage when you move. It is always a good idea to start researching your options before your move to allow ample time for decisions and enrollment.

Have questions? Call 1-877-443-3251 to talk it through with a licensed insurance agent. You never pay the agent; the plans they represent do, and the decision stays yours.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information.