Medicare Plan Options and Moving to California

So you're taking the plunge and moving out west.  Welcome!

How does this affect your Medicare options and what's the whole process?

We're going to walk through the entire thing and try to make it one less thing to worry about with the move.

There are differences depending on the type of coverage you have and we'll separate that out as well.

Here's our credential's just so you know we have your best interests at heart:

Let's get to the topics:

• Will moving to California affect my Medicare coverage
  
• Medicare supplements and moving to California
  
• Medicare Advantage plans and moving to California
  
• When to change medicare coverage when moving to CA
  
• What are the costs for medicare plans in California
  
• Does Medicare work across state lines

Let's get started.  There are things to pack!

Will moving to California affect my Medicare coverage

First, let's separate out traditional Medicare:

• Part A - hospital costs
  
• Part B - doctor costs

This is a federal program and will work the same in any State.  You can carry it with you...even to California!

The network of providers is nationwide and anyone who accepts Medicare is good to go.  Even if you're visiting or moving to another State.

That's the good news.  You don't need to do much with traditional medicare besides notify them of the address change so mail comes correctly.

Where the State wrinkle comes in is with the various ways people fill in the "gaps" of Medicare and there are three main paths here:

• Medicare supplements - work like PPOs
  
• Medicare Advantage plans - work like HMOs (generally)
  
• Part D - RX coverage; similar to Advantage plans

These three groupings have very different rules when moving to another State so we need to address them separately.

It's good to know what plan you're on now in your prior State!

Let's start with the old guard (no...we don't mean you :)

Medicare supplements and moving to California

This is the original way to "wrap" around Medicare and you usually see names from Plan A to Plan N:

You may even be able to keep your Medicare supplement plan when moving to California but double-check with your carrier.

Of course, you can quote and apply for a new California Medicare supplement here:

The benefits are standardized (a G plan is a G plan) and networks are identical (any Medicare provider) so it's really a question of pricing now!

Many people are on old plans (J, I, D, etc) which are no longer available.  Everytime we compare these to the new G plan, we find considerable price savings versus the benefit difference.

People just don't realize they're overpaying in most cases.  They've been on the same plan for years!

If anything, this is a good time to check the rates in California when your're moving and we're happy to help you directly compare the options.

Let us know your current plan/rate and we'll run the numbers (need zip code and date of birth) at help@calhealth.net or via quote link here:

Usually, people also have a Part D for medication along with their Medicare supplement and we'll touch on that below. It has different rules.

Let's look at the other big player now (roughly 50% of the California medicare plan market now!)

Medicare Advantage and/or Part D plans and moving to California

Medicare advantage plans are the new kids in town and a move will definitely affect these plans.

MA plans are based on where you live and if you move out of the area (generally county), then you'll no longer be eligible for the plan.

In fact, a change of address out of the area will likely disenroll you from the plan.

If you want to keep this type of plan (check out Advantage versus Supplement or How to pick the best California medicare plan), you'll need to re-apply.

And requote!  Every State will have completely different options and pricing.  You can run your Medicare quote here and you'll be able to enter your new doctors/RX.

Our system can show you the major plans in your area.  There's no cost for this and we really do try to help people find the best options.

The key take-away...a move to California will likely require you to find a new Advantage plan in the area you're moving to.

Part D and moving to California

Part D for medication works very similarly to Advantage plans.  It's based on your area residence so you'll need to requote and re-apply when moving to California.

Most people with a medicare supplement also have a Part D while most Advantage plans INCLUDE Part D coverage.

So...most people will need to re-evaluate some aspect of their coverage for Medicare when moving to CA.

We're happy to walk you through the entire process and there's zero cost for our assistance. 

Let's talk logistics now.

When to change medicare coverage when moving to CA

Let's say we're moving to California Feb 15th.

Ideally, we apply for either a supplement, Advantage plan, and/or a Part D plan before Feb 1st.

We can only request the 1st of the month AFTER we enroll so we want to do this in advance.

Now...if you happen to be reading this on Feb 15th, let's work quickly to get 3/1 and you'll need to notify your existing carrier of the move pretty quickly which will likely end your current plan end of Feb (in this situation).

It's good to double-check with your current carrier on when they need notification and when the policy will end but the above is pretty common. 

If you have a Medicare supplement, there's a little more leeway since it can work across the US.  The advantage plan and/or Part D are more tied to your address of residence and stricter.

The main takeaway is...a good 30 days or more before 1st of the month that you're moving to California is ideal for starting this process.

You'll need a physical address in California in order to start the process of course.  

Again, reach out to us at (888) 496-9439 or help@calhealth.net with any questions.  We just can't move the boxes :)

What about costs?

What are the costs for medicare plans in California

So, your Part B cost that's usually taken out of Social Security will likely not change since it's based on a Federal range of income from prior year.

The other costs will all differ depending on your area and age when moving to California.

You can run quotes for ALL plans (Supplements, Advantage, and Part D) based on your RX and doctors (may not have them yet) with Star Ratings build in here!:

There's no cost for our assistance or this quoting tool.

A few notes on rates.

The more populous the area, the lower the cost for Advantage/Part D plans but likely, the more expensive the Supplement plan.

There can really be big swings in costs from area to area across California so make sure to enter your zip code (or one in general area of where you're moving to).

• For Medicare supplements, focus on the G plan.  It's by far the most popular and comprehensive medigap option and you can quickly size up who's priced best.
• Blue Shield of California or (they're separate carriers in California) Anthem Blue Cross have been priced best for some years now but double-check.
• For Advantage plans, it's trickier (many many options in some areas).

Check out our How to pick the best Advantage plan but focus on the "Triple Threat":

1. Low or no cost
   
2. Max out of pocket under $1000
   
3. Star rating of 4 or higher

These are the dominant California Advantage carriers (outside of Kaiser):

There may be regional players depending on where you're moving to but big generally means stronger networks in the Advantage world.  HMO rules drive this!

Part D is similar.  Right now, Aetna's Silverscripts has been a leader.  

Compare pricing and Star ratings based on your total out of pocket costs (enter your medications in the system here:)

Again, if this is all too much when moving, let us do the work for you!  We've outlined exactly how we'll compare (G plan for supplement, triple threat for Advantage and/or Part D).

Just start the process here:

One final question that comes up quite a bit.

Does Medicare work across state lines

So...

• traditional Medicare (Part A and B) will work across state lines
  
• Medicare supplements will work across statelines but notify carrier of move; you may need to shop in California
  
• Advantage plans will generally NOT work outside your local area other than true emergency; a change of address will definitely cause disenrollment
  
• Part D plans will generally NOT work outside your local area or allowed pharmacy list; a change of address will cause disenrollment

Always double-check with your existing plans on their specific rules - especially when the plan will end when you notify them of a change of address.

Reach out with any questions.  Hopefully, we've checked off one thing from your moving to-do list!

Lots of good guidance here:

• Comparing Medicare Advantage and Supplement Plans
• The Trade-off Between Advantage and Supplements
• How and when to enroll in Medicare plans
• Your Insider's Guide to Medicare Advantage Plans
• Your Insider's Guide to Medicare Supplement Plans

Quote California Medicare Advantage Plans and Supplements with your Doctor and Medications Reflected!