What You Need to Know
About Medicare Enrollment When Moving to Raleigh, NC
The complete guide to Medicare enrollment and how to move your care to North Carolina
Whether you’re about to move or have recently moved to North Carolina, your to-do list is pretty long. Making sure your mail is forwarded and your banks have your new address are up there with figuring out health coverage.
If you’re moving to North Carolina from another state, you’re likely curious about what you need to do to make sure your Medicare coverage comes with you. Let’s explore Medicare enrollment, its plans, and how to smoothly transition your care to North Carolina when you move.
Which Parts of Medicare Can Be Moved to a New State?
When it’s time to move, you’ll likely have to take some action to get your Medicare coverage switched over to a new state. This includes things like changing your address and contact information, and maybe even enrolling in a new plan.
What you’ll need to do in addition to changing contact information varies on the type of coverage you already have, and what’s available in your new state (in this case, North Carolina). Original Medicare is a federal and nation-wide healthcare program. Because of this, your benefits shouldn’t be affected because Original Medicare is essentially available in each of the fifty states.
However, Medicare Advantage is an optional plan that uses location-based networks to disperse care. Learn which parts of Medicare easily transfer over to Raleigh, North Carolina, and the steps you’ll need to take to avoid gaps in Medicare Advantage.
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North Carolina Medicare Special Enrollment Periods
If you have Medicare Advantage and/or Medicare prescription drug coverage, moving to Raleigh, North Carolina likely qualifies you for a special circumstance. Things like moving to a new state, moving into a nursing home facility, and other major life events let eligible Medicare enrollees make changes to their coverage outside of the annual Open Enrollment period — this is called a Special Enrollment Period or SEP.
In most cases, people enrolled in Medicare can transition their care over to North Carolina from another state when they move. You’ll need to talk with your coverage specialists and a licensed North Carolina insurance agent to help with this transition. If your Medicare registrar is satisfied that special circumstances apply, you should be able to switch over coverage with little to no issues.
In general, you’ll have up to two months to switch your plan to North Carolina after your move is complete. However, if you move to an area in North Carolina that doesn’t serve Medicare Advantage, you may have to switch to Original Medicare.
Updating Original Medicare When Moving to Raleigh, North Carolina
If you aren’t enrolled in Medicare Advantage and simply have Original Medicare, you may not have to make any coverage changes before or after your move to North Carolina.
Medicare Advantage enrollees have what’s called a service area. This is a network of hospitals and doctors that accept Medicare Advantage health plans, and those networks vary from state to state (and even city to city). Because of this, individuals who move to a new state are no longer located in the service area — and need to make changes to their coverage accordingly during an SEP.
However, Original Medicare doesn’t have service areas. When you move to North Carolina, you’ll just need to find hospitals and doctors that accept Medicare. It’s important to note that even if you have Original Medicare, you’ll still need to update your address and contact information with the Social Security administration. You can do this online, over the phone, or by working with a trusted North Carolina independent Medicare agent.
Moving Your Stand-Alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage to NC
If you are enrolled in a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan for prescription drug coverage and move to North Carolina from another state, you should be able to transfer this as well. However, you’ll need to work quickly with your health professionals and an independent North Carolina Medicare agent to get your coverage transitioned during your SEP.
If you don’t get your prescription drug transitioned to North Carolina from your old state in the SEP window, you might have to wait to renew until the annual Open Enrollment period for Medicare. If you do miss the SEP, you may be eligible to enroll in short-term health insurance to bridge the gap between Medicare coverage.
Transferring Your Medicare Supplement Coverage to North Carolina
Medicare Supplement insurance is often called Medigap insurance. A Medicare Supplement plan or Medigap insurance should move with you to Raleigh, North Carolina from another state. Because most Medicare Supplement policies are standardized in most states, it’s likely that it won’t change.
Even though your policy and benefits may not change when you move to North Carolina, your rates may increase or decrease depending on where you moved from. For more information about how your Medicare Supplement coverage costs may change when you move, contact Carolina Insurance Professionals.
Watch Out For Medicare Enrollment Scams When You Move
When you relocate to North Carolina, be cautious opening mail or emails, or answering phone calls about your Medicare insurance. Unfortunately, fraudulent behavior impacts many Medicare enrollees every year. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you move to avoid becoming a victim of potential fraudulent activity.
- The official Medicare website can be found at https://www.medicare.gov/
- Medicare won’t ever ask you for your Medicare number, unless you’ve given them permission to beforehand
- Medicare representatives won’t ever visit your North Carolina home
- Check your Medicare bills and statements to make sure only your claims are present
- Report suspected Medicare fraud or related suspicious activity to Medicare
You can read more about Medicare fraud and scams online at the official Medicare website. Before or recently following your move to North Carolina, make an appointment to talk with our independent health insurance agents. We’ll help you get organized and ensure your Medicare coverage is transferred over to your new state. We’re ready to go over your benefits and discuss important deadlines so you don’t miss out.
Can Someone Help Me Find North Carolina Medicare Coverage?
Yes! Carolina Insurance Professionals is a team of experts who specialize in helping people just like you when it’s time to move. If you’re getting ready to move out here to North Carolina, or you’ve very recently relocated, contact us. We’ll help coordinate your coverage and find providers in your local area.
Our licensed and trained insurance agents are able to help you at no additional cost. This means we’ll talk you through your benefits, how they transfer to North Carolina, and more — all without adding to any of your existing Medicare costs. To speak with a professional Medicare agent here in North Carolina, give us a call now.
Talk to an Independent Medicare Enrollment Agency in North Carolina
Carolina Insurance Professionals is ready to assist individuals with selecting and enrolling in Medicare. We have a team of Medicare experts who are local to Raleigh, NC and are ready to answer your questions about costs, policies, and how to get your plans moved to North Carolina so there’s no gap in coverage.
We’re the independent Medicare enrollment agent in North Carolina that helps individuals get settled in our beautiful state. Don’t miss deadlines or your chance to switch over your plans during a Special Enrollment Period. Work with us for an easy transition with no surprise costs today!
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