How to Transfer Medicare to Another State

Medicare is a health insurance plan run by the United States government and offered to citizens who meet specific requirements. For example, American citizens with a permanent disability and those older than 65 are generally eligible to receive benefits. There are four parts of Medicare --- parts A, B, C and D. The majority of recipients benefit from parts A and B automatically, but parts C and D are voluntary and supplemental benefits paid for by the recipients themselves. When a person enrolled in Medicare moves from one state to another, his original Medicare (parts A and B) automatically transfer with him upon notice, but any supplemental coverage must be transferred through the program providers.

Things You'll Need

• Medicare policy

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Instructions

• 1

  Notify your local office of the Social Security Administration of your change in address as soon as possible. Since most Medicare benefits are distributed electronically, your payments should not be interrupted when you move. However, the administration will need to change the mailing address for important future mailings about your benefits, such as increases and explanation of benefit forms. Visit the Social Security website to find the nearest location or contact information (see "Resources").

• 2

  Visit the website of your supplemental policy provider if you are enrolled in a Part C or D plan. This includes a supplemental drug prescription program or Medicare Advantage plan. Look up information on your policy to see if it is available to residents of the zip code to which you are moving. Make notes of any plans that are available in your new state that are similar to the plan in which you are currently enrolled.

• 3

  Call your supplemental policy provider's customer service line. Verify whether your current policy is valid in the state to which you are moving and what your provider's requirements are to transfer the policy if it is still valid. Most plans are state specific, however. If the plan does not transfer, ask for referrals to other plans in the provider's network within that state as well as contact information. Request to transfer your current enrollment to a new policy. If your plan does not transfer, request information on how to cancel it.