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Many retirees hit the road before winter comes to go to a warmer state. Snowbirds, as they are called, travel to warmer weather while their home state experiences colder weather.

Generally, most snowbirds stay where it is warm for several months. This sounds pretty great, right? However, this can be a little tricky with your health insurance, but it all comes down to which kind of Medicare coverage you have chosen. Each type of Medicare plan works differently when it comes to extended stays away from your permanent residence.

People often ask us, “What do snowbirds do with Medicare coverage?”, “How do Medicare plans work for snowbirds?” and “What is the best plan for snowbirds?” If you will be a snowbird in retirement, here is what you’ll want to know and consider.

Original Medicare Coverage for Snowbirds
Although you may have two homes during the year, you will want to use your permanent resident address that Social Security has on file when applying for Medicare. You won’t need to change your address every time you travel temporarily. If your permanent residence stays the same with Social Security, it can stay the same with Medicare.

Paying for Medicare
You can change your temporary mailing address when you travel to another state for an extended amount of time. If you are not receiving Social Security benefits and receive a quarterly bill for your Part B premium, changing your temporary mailing address is crucial. You never want to miss a bill for your Part B premium because it could lead to a lapse in coverage. You can also pay your Part B premium online if that is easier while you are away.

How Medigap Coverage Works for Snowbirds
When you purchase a Medigap plan, you will list your permanent resident address that is on file with Medicare and Social Security. This means you will choose a Medigap plan based on what is available in your home zip code. However, you can use that Medigap plan anywhere in the country, so your coverage should be the same no matter where you are.

How to Pay for Your Medigap Plan
We recommend that you enroll in a monthly bank draft to pay for your Medigap premiums. However, if you choose to a direct bill for your plan’s premium, you will need to remember to change your mailing address with your carrier so you don’t risk a lapse in coverage due to a missed bill. However, you don’t need to change your permanent residence as that should always match what Medicare has on record.

How Medicare Advantage Coverage Works for Snowbirds
Medicare Advantage plans, on the other hand, work differently. Advantage plans have a network of doctors and hospitals that you must use to get coverage from your plan. Therefore, the coverage you have when you travel from one state to another will depend on your plan.

You will first choose a plan based on your permanent residence. You will likely want to choose a plan that has out of network benefits if you know you’ll travel often. Medicare Advantage PPO plans can cover you while out of network if the doctor is willing to pay the plan.

However, there are HMO and PPO plans that have national providers. Therefore, as long as you see a provider that participates in your plan’s national provider program, they can be considered in-network. Other Advantage plans may offer a travel benefit as part of their plan. This means you can travel outside of your network for an extended time and be covered. It is essential to know that your costs can be more expensive when you are outside of your plan’s network.

One thing to keep in mind is that Advantage plans change their benefits and costs each year, so you will always want to view your plan’s Annual Notice of Change letter to ensure your travel benefits and networks have not changed.

Medicare Part D Coverage for Snowbirds
Like the other Medicare plans you can purchase, you must choose a Part D drug plan based on your permanent resident address. When it comes time to enroll in a drug plan, you will use your home zip code and county to choose a plan that best fits your needs.

Each Part D plan has a network of pharmacies. Preferred, standard, and out-of-network pharmacies vary with each plan. If you visit a preferred pharmacy, you will pay the most cost-effective prices compared to standard pharmacies. If a pharmacy is out of network with your plan, you will pay for the entire cost and won’t have coverage.

Part D plans also have national coverage. For example, if Walgreens is one of your plan’s preferred or standard pharmacies, you can go to any Walgreens in the U.S. and get your prescription filled. This means you do not have to change your Part D plan when traveling to your second home. However, you technically must reside in the “home residence” for at least half the year. If you don’t, the plan can drop you.

Paying Your Part D Plan’s Premium
If you receive a direct bill in the mail for your Part D premium, you will want to make sure they send it to your temporary address while you are away from your permanent residence.

Which Plan is Best for You?
Now that you know more about how each plan will cover you as a snowbird, you’ll want to focus on your potential out-of-pocket costs and monthly premiums. Some states can be more expensive than others, so you will want to weigh all options.

Additionally, you’ll need to think about the providers and facilities in both areas. It will be important that you have coverage no matter where you are, especially since you will be in both places during the year.

Final Point
When you retire and become a snowbird, your Medicare decisions are crucial. You will want to ensure you have coverage no matter where you are. If you choose a Medicare Advantage plan and later want to change to a Medigap plan, you might have to undergo a medical underwriting. This means you could be denied coverage. However, if you start with a Medigap plan and later want to change to a Medicare Advantage plan, you can during valid election periods. These are the types of details you’ll want to consider when you become a snowbird.

If you purchase your policy through Boomer Benefits, you will always have our Client Service Team to call for assistance when you travel back and forth!