Keeping your policy
Medicare's Medigap guide says that "in general, you can keep your current Medigap policy regardless of where you live as long as you still have Original Medicare." A standard Medigap policy isn't tied to a network: it pays its share for any doctor, hospital or other provider in the U.S. who accepts Medicare, including the many retirement areas in North Carolina's mountains, Piedmont and coast.
- Tell your company your new address. It may reprice the policy for your new location, so ask before you move what the North Carolina premium will be.
- Keep paying the premium. Medigap policies are guaranteed renewable, so the company can't cancel you for health reasons as long as you pay.
- Keep Original Medicare. Medigap doesn't work with Medicare Advantage. If you join a Medicare Advantage plan in North Carolina, your Medigap won't pay anything while you're in it.
If it's a Medicare SELECT policy
Medicare SELECT policies use a network, often a local one. Moving out of the SELECT policy's area gives you a guaranteed right to buy Medigap Plan A, B, D or G (C or F if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020) from a company in your state or North Carolina, without health questions, from 60 days before to 63 days after the SELECT policy ends.
Switching policies after you move
North Carolina has no Medigap birthday rule, anniversary rule or yearly switching right (G.S. 58, Article 54). Outside your first Medigap open enrollment period or a guaranteed-issue right, a company can ask health questions and turn you down or charge more. If you're healthy and want a different plan letter or company, compare before you decide; if your health has changed, keeping your current policy may be the safer choice.
New North Carolina policies come with a 30-day free look and full refund (G.S. 58-54-30), and companies that price by attained age must disclose it in writing with a 10-year illustration (G.S. 58-54-25(f)). See Medigap in North Carolina.
To compare Medigap policies from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
Moving from New York?
New York's year-round rule stays behind.
What happens to my Medicare if I move?
Every kind of coverage, one table.
Can I keep my Medicare Advantage plan?
Service areas and your moving window.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Choosing a Medigap Policy (Section 5: if you move; Medicare SELECT)
- Medicare.gov — Medigap
- North Carolina General Statutes — Chapter 58, Article 54
- N.C.G.S. 58-54-30 — Notice of free examination
- N.C.G.S. 58-54-25 — Disclosure standards (attained-age rating)
More questions in this guide
- Can I change my Medigap when I move from New York to North Carolina?
- Can I keep my Medicare Advantage plan if I move to North Carolina?
- Does my Medicare work in North Carolina if I live part of the year in another state?
- How does Medicare work for half-backs moving to North Carolina?
- What happens to my Medicare if I move from Florida to North Carolina?
- What happens to my Medicare if I move to North Carolina?
Part of the guide: Moving to North Carolina with Medicare · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Will my Medigap premium change when I move to North Carolina?
It may. Medigap prices depend on the company, the plan letter and where you live, so the company can reprice your policy for your new location. Ask your company before you move.
What if I have a Medicare SELECT policy?
A Medicare SELECT policy uses a network. If you move out of its area, you have a guaranteed right to buy Medigap Plan A, B, D or G (C or F if eligible before 2020) from a company in your state or the state you're moving to, from 60 days before to 63 days after the SELECT policy ends.
Does another state's Medigap switching rule apply in North Carolina?
No. Rules such as year-round or birthday-month switching are state law in the state where they apply. Once you live in North Carolina, North Carolina's rules apply when you buy a new policy, and it has no birthday rule or yearly switching right.
Medicare in your North Carolina county
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