MEDICARE
Medicare and Changes in Residence When you move, it can affect your Medicare coverage. Let’s look at the different kinds of moves, from in-state to abroad, and what they mean for your Medicare. Moving within state • If you have Original Medicare , notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) of your move to update your address. • If you have a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D plan, notify the plan of your change of address and see if you will still be in your plan’s area of coverage. º If not, you will have a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to change plans. You can call State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to use your SEP and change plans. • If you have a Medigap, call the plan to ask if the cost of your premium will change.
Moving out of State All the above applies, plus: • If you have a Medigap, learn about your new state’s rules around Medigaps. You can call your SHIP to learn about Medigaps in your state in case you want to make changes in the future. • If you have a Medicare Savings Program (MSP), learn about the eligibility rules in the state to which you are moving. For help with a new MSP application, contact that state’s SHIP. • If you were automatically enrolled in Extra Help because of your state’s Medicaid (AHCCCS) or MSP, you may need to actively enroll after your move to another state. You can call Social Security (800-772-1213) to learn about the status of your Extra Help. Moving abroad • If you have a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D plan, contact your plan to disenroll. You will no longer be eligible for these plans while living abroad. If you move back to the U.S., you will have an SEP to enroll in plans again. • If you have premium-free Part A, you should keep it. If you be- come eligible for premium-free Part A while abroad, you should enroll. To enroll while abroad, request forms from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate of the country you live in. • If you plan to move back to the U.S. or travel back frequently,
you may want to enroll in or keep Part B to have medical coverage during your stays and avoid coverage gaps or late enrollment penalties. • If you plan to move abroad permanently and not visit the U.S., you might consider dropping Part B. Be aware of the consequences you could face if you enroll later including coverage gaps and late enrollment penalties. Medicare enrollment decisions if you are incarcerated • If you had Medicare before your arrest, you will remain eligible for the program while you are incarcerated, as long as you continue to pay your Medicare premiums. Your correctional facility will provide and pay for your care during that time, and Medicare will not. • Once you are released, Medicare will resume coverage if you remained enrolled. • If you are released after January 1, 2027 and you missed an enrollment period during your incarceration, you are eligible for an SEP to enroll in premium Part A and Part B when you are released. Take care when sharing personal information • You may need to share your personal information when you move, like when you update your address, enroll in a new plan, or start seeing new providers. • Only share personal information with trusted sources and be on the lookout for medical identify theft.
Page 18 | September & October 2026, Never Too Late
Pima Council on Aging
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