Having a Medicare Supplement health insurance plan, also known as Medigap, means having added financial assistance to pay for out of pocket expenses that may occur with Original Medicare benefits.
Over 14 million Original Medicare recipients with Parts A (hospital insurance) and B (medical insurance), rely on a Medigap plan to pay coinsurances, copayments, and some deductibles left over from their Medicare coverage.
One of the most frequent questions that people ask before they consider purchasing a Medicare Supplement plan is whether they can take their plan with them if they have to move to a different zip code. Here are some of the details regarding that issue that can help you decide whether a supplement insurance plan is right for your needs.
Can you take your Medigap plan with you when you move to another state?
If you are enrolled in Original Medicare Parts A and B, you can keep your current Medicare Supplement plan, in most states, when you move to another state or zip code. Before you move, you must contact the private insurance company that provides your current plan and inform them of the details regarding your move. They can give you more information about your health care insurance options, if you must cancel your plan and enroll in another, or if you can keep the same plan. If you are not able to keep your plan, you should not drop it until you have enrolled in the new one.
If you are relocating to, or moving out of Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Massachusetts, you will probably have to change your current Medigap plan to a different one in your new home state. These three states use a different system for standardizing the Medigap plans offered there. Check the requirements with the private insurance companies involved in your current state as well as the state you are moving to so you can follow the correct procedure for changing plans.
If you decide to change to a new Medicare Supplement insurance plan, you may need to have a health exam and you do risk being rejected. If accepted into a new plan, you have a free look period which lasts 30 days. During this 30-day period, you can decide which plan you prefer.
If you have a Medicare SELECT policy, you can enroll in another supplement plan if you are moving out of the area served by your Medicare SELECT plan. In these cases, you do not have to have a health exam if you have been enrolled for more than six months.
If you are moving to a new home and do not have a Medigap plan, you can apply in your new home state. However, if you are not covered by guaranteed issue rights, you may have to go through medical examination, and you may not be accepted by the issuers of the policy.
All Medigap Supplement insurance plans can be used with any health care provider that accepts Original Medicare assignment. That means you can use your current Medigap plan if you move within your state or in another state. You also have coverage if you are traveling from state to state.
The only thing prohibiting you from using your current Medigap plan in another state is if your plan is not available in the new zip code. You can find out whether your plan is accepted in your new home by calling your private insurance provider.
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