I'm moving to a new area — does that affect my Medicare coverage?

A move can change which plans are available to you, and it usually opens a Special Enrollment Period to switch, so it's worth updating your coverage when you relocate. Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are sold by region, and their networks and drug lists are local, so a plan that worked in one place may not be offered, or may look very different, in another. When you move outside your plan's service area, you generally get a Special Enrollment Period. If you tell your plan before you move, the window typically starts the month before your move and runs about two more months. If you tell them after, it usually starts the month you notify them and runs about two more months. Original Medicare travels with you, since Parts A and B work nationwide, and a Medicare Supplement policy generally stays valid when you move, but Part D and Medicare Advantage plans are tied to where you live. Because of that, it's smart to check your new options early, since the doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies near your new home may not be in your old plan's network. Remember to update your address with Social Security at SSA.gov so your Medicare records stay current. Service areas and the timing of these windows can be specific, so confirm at Medicare.gov or with your local SHIP. A licensed agent who knows your new area can help you find plans that include your providers, at no cost to you.

— Matt Rolph, Los Angeles, CAVerified