Sky Insurance

Moving, particularly moving to a new state, can be an overwhelming process. There are a million things to do, the least of which you want to be thinking about it handling your health insurance. However, you must be covered in your new location, so here are a few things to consider when you have Medicare insurance and are moving to a new state:

1. First and foremost, know that if you have a standardized Medicare Supplement plan (A-J), you can keep the same plan nationally and use it anywhere in the US that takes Medicare. This is one of the largest advantages of Medigap insurance and something to keep in mind when you move to a new state. You keep the same coverage uninterrupted and can go to any doctor that takes Medicare. These plans are Federally-standardized, so a Plan F in Tennessee is the same as a Plan F in Georgia. So in summary, if you have a Medigap plan, you likely do not need to change it when you move.
2. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Part D plan, you will, most likely, need to change plans. Both of these types of plans work differently from Medicare Supplement plans. They work on a "service area" basis, so when you move out of their service area, you have to get a new plan in your new service area. We recommend that you start looking into this at least one month before you projected move date, as exploring the new plans in a new area (along with the other obligations of moving) can be time-consuming. Keep in mind, too, that your current company may still offer plans in the new state; however, you would have to switch into a plan for that state's service area in most cases.
3. Your Medigap rate may be affected. While you can keep your same Medcare Supplement plan, the rates can change when you move to a new state. For example, if you move from Virginia to Tennessee, and Tennessee's rates are higher than Virginia's, your premium may increase to be in line with your new state's premium.