After relocating, newcomers should check Medicare plans

By Chris Dewey CONTRIBUTOR

Over the course of the past four months, I’ve helped a dozen or so couples who moved to South Carolina from places like California, Ohio, New Jersey, Vermont, and my home state of New York. Medicare Part A and Part B travel with you regardless of what state you move to, but for Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Part D (drug plan), there are geographical boundaries we need to consider.

If you move to a new state, chances are good that you will now be out of network with your current plan and you will lose your Medicare Advantage plan or Part D drug plan.

You will have a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that allows you to enroll in a either a new Medicare Advantage plan or original Medicare and get a Part D drug plan and a Medicare supplement with no underwriting or health questions.

If you notify your Medicare Advantage

Plan or Part D plan of a permanent move in advance, you have an SEP to switch to another Medicare Advantage or Part D plan beginning as early as the month before your move and lasting up to two months after the move.

If you notify your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan of a permanent move after you move, you have an SEP to switch to another private health or drug plan, beginning the month you tell your plan, plus two more full months thereafter.

Six of the 20 or so folks I transitioned had a chronic condition (cancer, COPD and congestive heart disease) and had a local HMO, so I enrolled these folks in a Medicare supplement Plan G with no health questions asked. They were ecstatic they could get a Plan G even though they were sick.

Plan N does not allow these sick folks to enroll, but the Plan G must accept these folks with no health questions asked.

If you were over 65 on Jan. 1, 2020, you can enroll in the Plan F with no health questions asked.

Two couples from New York and Vermont had the Plan G supplement. Two of these folks were 68 years old and had the Plan G in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. They were paying $245 per month per person with AARP, but rates are very high in New York. Since they now live in South Carolina, I was able to put them on the exact same Plan G supplement but with a rate of $104 per month for the husband and $92 for the wife.

So if you anticipate moving here or perhaps moving elsewhere be sure to educate yourself on your Special Enrollment Period and guaranteed issue rights. It could save you thousands in health care costs.

Chris Dewey is the founder of May River Medicare Insurance in Bluffton.