What to Do About Medicare and Social Security When You Move
If youโre a Social Security and Medicare recipient you need to notify these agencies when and where you move so there are no hiccups in your benefits or coverage.
Dear Savvy Senior,
Next month my husband and I are moving to a different state so I can be near our daughter and grandkids. Do we need to notify Social Security and Medicare about the move?
—Relocating Grandparents
Dear Relocating,
Yes, if youโre Social Security and Medicare recipients you definitely need to let these Federal agencies know when and where you move so there are no hiccups in your benefits or coverage. Hereโs what you should know.
How to Update Your Info.
If youโre receiving Social Security retirement, survivors or disability benefits, itโs required that you notify the Social Security Administration when you move to ensure your deposits continue and you avoid disruptions.
Youโll need to provide them your new mailing address so they can deliver important documents to you like your annual SSA-1099 tax form. And if youโre switching banks or credit unions, youโll need to update your direct deposit information by providing your new financial institutionโs routing number and account number.
If youโre a Medicare beneficiary, they too need your new mailing address so bills, correspondence, your Medicare Summary Notice and other statements can go to the right address.
You can update both your Social Security and Medicare contact information online by simply using the โMy Profileโ tab in your personal โmy Social Securityโ account. If you donโt have an account, you can create one online for free in just a few minutes.
Or, if you need some help or donโt have internet access, you can call Social Security at 800-772-1213, or visit your local Social Security office and they will make the changes for you.
Medicare Private Plans
You also need to know that if youโre enrolled in original Medicare, you can move anywhere within the United States without losing coverage. But if you have Part D prescription drug coverage or a Medicare Advantage plan from a private health insurance company, and you move out of the planโs service area, youโll have to switch plans or youโll face losing coverage.
Part D service areas typically are statewide or can extend to parts of neighboring states, while Medicare Advantage plansโ service areas vary by county.
Moving out of a planโs service area qualifies you for a special enrollment period (SEP) of at least two months to get a new plan. You may also qualify if you move within your planโs service area and it offers options different from what you had. The enrollment timing depends on when you notify the plan.
If you tell your plan before you move, your chance to switch plans begins the month before the month you move and continues for two full months after you move. If you tell your plan after you move, your chance to switch plans begins the month you tell your plan, plus two more full months.
To shop for new Part D and Medicare Advantage plans in your new area, use the Medicare Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov/plan-compare.
You can also switch Part D or Medicare Advantage plans during open enrollment, which runs each year from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 for coverage starting Jan. 1.
Medigap Plans
If youโre enrolled in original Medicare and have a Medigap supplemental policy you usually donโt have to switch plans if you move, but you do need to notify your provider. Some insurers let you keep the rate based on the state where you originally applied for Medigap. Others may change your premiums to coincide with their coverage in a different zip code.