Does Medicare depend on where you live?

Asked by: Miss Gladys Smitham Sr.  |  Last update: February 3, 2024
Score: 4.4/5 (24 votes)

Medicare costs by zip code
The federal program that's Original Medicare, costs the same no matter your state. But Medigap and Medicare Advantage plan options will change depending on your location. Some states have a higher cost of Medigap than other states, and some zip codes offer $0 Medicare Part C options.

Is Medicare determined by where you live?

A federal agency called the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services runs Medicare. Because it's a federal program, Medicare has set standards for costs and coverage. This means a person's Medicare coverage will be the same no matter what state they live in.

How does your zip code affect your Medicare benefits?

Zip Codes and Original Medicare Benefits

Original Medicare, or Medicare Parts A and B, is not affected by what zip code you live in. Traditional Medicare benefits are the same for everyone who is enrolled in the program. Additionally, your monthly Medicare premiums are not affected by where you live.

What happens to my Medicare if I move?

Medicare Part A and Part B will always travel with you. But for Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans and Part D prescription drug plans, you may lose your existing plan and need to enroll in a new one.

Do I need to let Medicare know if I move?

Plans That Vary from Area to Area or That May Require You to Use an In-Network Provider. If you have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, you need to notify the Social Security Administration of your change of address, but you won't need to change plans just because you're relocating.

What Should I Do With My Medicare if I'm Leaving the US to Live Abroad?

38 related questions found

How does Medicare work if you live in two states?

If you're a dual resident of two states, Medicare will generally provide coverage wherever you choose to live within the United States. Medicare coverage generally extends to the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories: Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands).

Do Medicare benefits differ by state?

Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) is a federal program so your coverage, costs and benefits will not be different from state to state. Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D and Medigap plans are available through private insurers. These optional Medicare plans are regulated by each state and tend to vary.

How do you qualify to get $144 back from Medicare?

To qualify for the giveback, you must:
  1. Be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B.
  2. Pay your own premiums (if a state or local program is covering your premiums, you're not eligible).
  3. Live in a service area of a plan that offers a Part B giveback.

What ZIP codes get extra Social Security benefits?

Social security benefits are not impacted by geographic location but other federal benefits are.

Does your zip code determine how long you live?

People living just a few blocks apart may have vastly different opportunities to live a long life. Unfortunately, significant gaps in life expectancy persist across many United States cities, towns, ZIP codes and neighborhoods. The latest estimates of life expectancy reveal differences down to the census tract level.

Can Medicare patients go anywhere?

You can use any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare, anywhere in the U.S. To help pay your out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare (like your 20% coinsurance), you can also shop for and buy supplemental coverage.

Is Medicare based on individual or household income?

Medicare Part A and Part C rates are not based on income. In 2023, your costs for Medicare Parts B and D are based on income reported on your 2021 tax return. You won't pay any extra for Part B or Part D if you earned $97,000 or less as an individual or $194,000 or less if you are a joint filer.

Does Medicare look at income?

We use your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) from your federal income tax return to determine your income-related monthly adjustment amounts. Your MAGI is the total of your adjusted gross income and tax-exempt interest income.

What happens to my Medicare Part D if I move to another state?

If you have a Medicare Part D plan and move out of state or outside of the plan's service area, you will have a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) in which you can enroll in a new plan. But you must notify your plan that you are moving.

Is Medicare based on state or federal?

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for: People who are 65 or older. Certain younger people with disabilities. People with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant, sometimes called ESRD)

Which states do not have Medicare?

As of the time of writing, only 12 states have not done so: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Can I change Medicare Advantage if I move?

You can make changes to your Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage when certain events happen in your life, like if you move or you lose other insurance coverage. These chances to make changes are called Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs).

Why are you forced to go on Medicare?

Some employers don't continue to offer retiree health coverage for former employees once they turn 65, opting instead for retirees to transition to being covered solely by Medicare. Without coverage from your company, you'll need Medicare to ensure that you are covered for potential health issues that arise as you age.

How to live part time in two different states?

Legally, you can have multiple residences in multiple states, but only one domicile. You must be physically in the same state as your domicile most of the year, and able to prove the domicile is your principal residence, “true home” or “place you return to.”

Do states contribute to Medicare?

Funding for Medicare, which totaled $888 billion in 2021, comes primarily from general revenues (46%), payroll tax revenues (34%), and premiums paid by beneficiaries (15%) (Figure 8). Other sources include taxes on Social Security benefits, payments from states, and interest.

Can dual citizens get Medicare?

Like all Medicare beneficiaries, dual eligible beneficiaries can choose whether to receive care through Original Medicare, or enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, sometimes called “Part C” or “MA Plans.” In California there are several types of Medicare Advantage plans, and plan options vary by county.