If you’re a snowbird—someone who splits time between two or more states to avoid cold winters or hot summers—you may wonder how Medicare works when you’re constantly on the move. Whether you’re spending your winters in sunny Florida and your summers in a cooler climate up north, ensuring continuous healthcare coverage across multiple states is essential for managing your healthcare needs.
Here’s what you need to know about how Medicare works for snowbirds, including tips for choosing the best plan for your lifestyle and staying covered no matter where you are.
Understanding Medicare: The Basics
Before diving into the details, let’s review the basic structure of Medicare:
Medicare Part A: Covers hospital stays, skilled nursing care, and some home health services. Most people do not pay premiums for Part A.
Medicare Part B: Covers doctor visits, outpatient services, and preventive care. It requires a monthly premium.
Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage): An alternative to traditional Medicare, offering Part A and Part B coverage, often with added benefits like vision or dental.
Medicare Part D: Provides prescription drug coverage.
Medicare is a federal program, meaning it offers coverage across all U.S. states and territories. However, the type of plan you choose—Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan—will affect how easily you can access care in different locations.
Original Medicare: The Best Option for Snowbirds?
For most snowbirds, Original Medicare (Parts A and B) is the most straightforward option because it’s accepted by healthcare providers nationwide. Whether you’re in Arizona, New York, or anywhere in between, you’re likely to find doctors and hospitals that accept Original Medicare.
Key Benefits of Original Medicare for Snowbirds:
Nationwide Coverage: No matter which state you’re in, as long as the healthcare provider accepts Medicare, you’re covered.
No Network Restrictions: You’re not limited to a specific network of doctors, making it easier to receive care in multiple locations.
Supplemental Insurance Options: You can pair Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement Plan (Medigap) for additional coverage, such as help with co-pays, deductibles, and coinsurance.
If you’re someone who frequently travels between states, Original Medicare with a Medigap plan is often the best choice for ensuring continuous coverage and minimizing out-of-pocket costs.
Medicare Advantage Plans: What You Need to Know
Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) are private plans that offer Medicare benefits but often come with network restrictions. These plans typically provide lower premiums and additional benefits (like dental or vision), but they usually require you to get care from a specific network of providers.
Potential Issues for Snowbirds with Medicare Advantage:
Limited Networks: Medicare Advantage plans are often regional or local, meaning they may only cover care within a specific area or state. This could be problematic if you split your time between states.
Out-of-Network Costs: If you receive care outside of the plan’s network, you may face higher out-of-pocket costs or, in some cases, no coverage at all.
However, some Medicare Advantage plans—such as PPO plans—offer out-of-network coverage, which could make them a viable option for snowbirds. Be sure to review the plan’s details to understand whether you’ll be covered in both of your home states.
Medicare Advantage Special Considerations for Snowbirds:
Check Your Plan’s Service Area: If you’re considering a Medicare Advantage Plan, make sure its network includes providers in both of the states where you live.
Travel Coverage: Some Medicare Advantage Plans offer nationwide coverage for emergency care or “visitor/travel” programs, which allow you to receive care in different states for a limited period of time. Confirm with your provider if these options exist.
Medigap: A Supplementary Option for Snowbirds
Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap) can be a great companion to Original Medicare for snowbirds. Medigap policies help cover the out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare doesn’t, like deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.
Why Medigap Works Well for Snowbirds:
Accepted Nationwide: Like Original Medicare, Medigap plans are accepted anywhere that takes Medicare, making it easy to get coverage in multiple states.
Standardized Plans: Medigap plans are standardized, meaning the benefits remain the same no matter where you live or travel within the U.S.
Helps Cover Gaps: If you visit the doctor frequently in different locations, Medigap helps cover expenses, reducing your out-of-pocket costs.
What About Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Plans)?
Whether you choose Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan, you’ll need prescription drug coverage, which is provided by Medicare Part D. These plans can vary in terms of network pharmacies, so if you’re living in multiple states, it’s important to:
Check the Pharmacy Network: Make sure that your plan’s network includes pharmacies in both states. Many large pharmacy chains (like CVS or Walgreens) are in-network for most Part D plans.
Consider Mail-Order Prescriptions: Many Part D plans offer a mail-order prescription service, which could be convenient for snowbirds. You can have your medications delivered to you no matter where you are.
Tips for Snowbirds on Medicare
To ensure that you have consistent and comprehensive coverage while living across multiple states, follow these tips:
Confirm Your Plan’s Coverage Area
If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, contact your plan provider to verify whether you can receive care in both of your home states. Look into the availability of national PPO plans or travel benefits.
Update Your Address with Medicare
If you have multiple residences, ensure that Medicare and your insurance provider have the correct address on file. This ensures you receive important notices and that your plan information stays current.
Use Telemedicine
Many Medicare plans now cover telemedicine visits, which can be a convenient option for snowbirds who need to see a doctor when they’re in between states.
Keep Your Medigap Plan After Moving
If you have Medigap and move permanently to another state, you can keep your Medigap plan. However, pricing may vary by state, so contact your provider to review any changes in premiums.
Emergency Care is Always Covered
Whether you have Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, emergency care is covered anywhere in the U.S. Be sure to understand your plan’s specific guidelines for emergencies and urgent care.
As a snowbird, maintaining Medicare coverage across multiple states is entirely possible with the right planning and attention to detail. For most, Original Medicare paired with a Medigap plan provides the most flexibility and peace of mind, allowing you to receive care from any provider that accepts Medicare, no matter where you are.
Before choosing your plan, take the time to review the details, check provider networks, and ensure that your coverage works for your unique lifestyle. By taking these steps, you can enjoy your seasonal travels without worrying about healthcare coverage gaps.