When your window starts and ends
The special enrollment period comes from federal rules (42 CFR 422.62(b)(2) for Medicare Advantage, 423.38(c)(7) for Part D). Medicare.gov and CMS guidance set the dates:
| If you tell your plan | Your window |
|---|---|
| Before you move | Starts the month before the month you move and lasts 2 full months after the move. |
| After you move | Starts when you move and lasts 2 full months after the move. |
CMS's own example: someone who tells their plan in May that they'll move on June 18 has a window from May 1 to August 31.
Who qualifies
- You move your permanent home out of your plan's service area, for example from New York or Ohio to Florida.
- You move within your plan's area but have new plan choices at your new address, such as a move from Monroe County (7 Medicare Advantage plans open to everyone for 2027) to Miami-Dade County ({{fl:plans.counties.Miami-Dade.ma:n}}).
- You have no plan yet but your move brings new plan choices. CMS's example: a person with Original Medicare and no drug plan who moves to another state can join a Part D plan there.
- Not a seasonal stay. CMS says a temporary move isn't a permanent residence. Plans may check your address with records such as a driver license, voter registration, tax records or utility bills.
What the window lets you do, and what it doesn't
- Join a Florida Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage) or a Part D plan, or go back to Original Medicare.
- If you leave Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare because of the move, you can buy Medigap Plan A, B, D or G (C or F if you were eligible for Medicare before 2020) without health questions, from 60 days before your plan ends until 63 days after.
- It doesn't open Part B. Moving isn't on Medicare.gov's list of Part B special enrollment periods. Coming from Puerto Rico without Part B? See this question.
Medicare's Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7, now under way for 2027 coverage) is another chance to change, but you don't need to wait for it. If your plan is ending in 2027 instead, see plans ending in 2027. To compare plans for your new ZIP code from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
What happens to my Medicare?
Each kind of coverage.
Moving from New Jersey?
PAAD, Senior Gold and your plans.
Leaving a Platino plan?
Puerto Rico's dual-eligible program.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Special Enrollment Periods (you change where you live)
- eCFR — 42 CFR 422.62, Medicare Advantage election periods
- eCFR — 42 CFR 423.38, Part D enrollment periods
- CMS — CY2027 MA and Part D Enrollment and Disenrollment Guidance (§ 20.3, § 30.6.20)
- Medicare.gov — When does Medicare coverage start? (Part B special enrollment periods)
- Medicare.gov — Choosing a Medigap Policy (March 2026)
- CMS — CY2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape files
More questions in this guide
- What happens to my Medicare Platino plan if I move from Puerto Rico to Florida?
- Moving from New Jersey to Florida: what happens to my Medicare?
- Moving from New York to Florida: what happens to my Medicare?
- I'm moving from Puerto Rico to Florida. Do I need to sign up for Medicare Part B?
- Moving to Florida from Ohio, Michigan or Illinois: what happens to my Medicare?
- What happens to my Medicare if I move to Florida?
Part of the guide: Moving to Florida with Medicare · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Does moving within Florida give me a special enrollment period?
Yes, if you move out of your plan's service area, or stay in it but have new plan options at your new address. Florida plans are approved county by county, so a move from one county to another can change your choices.
What happens if I don't choose a plan in time?
If you were in a Medicare Advantage plan and move out of its area, you'll be in Original Medicare when the plan disenrolls you. You can still change plans in later enrollment periods, but a gap in drug coverage of 63 days or more can bring a Part D penalty.
When does my new plan start?
You can choose a start date up to 3 months after the month the plan gets your request, but CMS guidance says it can't be earlier than the date you move.
Medicare in your Florida county
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