What CMS says about permanent residence
CMS's 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D enrollment guidance (section 20.3) says you can enroll in a plan if you permanently reside in its service area, and that a temporary move into the area doesn't count. Generally, your primary residence establishes permanent residence. When someone has more than one home, a plan may ask for more information, such as:
- voter registration records;
- driver's license records;
- tax records; or
- utility bills.
A P.O. box isn't a residence, and if there's a dispute over where you live, the plan refers to the law of your state. You can give a plan a separate mailing address, but CMS says that doesn't change the residency requirement.
Florida or New York: what changes
| Coverage | What your permanent state decides |
|---|---|
| Original Medicare | Nothing. It works with any provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. |
| Medicare Advantage | Which plans you can join; routine care is tied to that county's plans and networks. |
| Part D | Which region's plans you choose from. Florida is its own Part D region. |
| Medigap | Which state's rules apply when you buy. New York's rules don't follow you to Florida, and Florida has no birthday rule. |
| Medicaid and state programs | Eligibility, since state programs require residency. |
If you make Florida your permanent home
Many snowbirds file a Declaration of Domicile with the clerk of court in their Florida county. Under Fla. Stat. 222.17 it's voluntary, and someone who keeps a home in another state can swear the Florida home is their predominant and principal home. Then update your address with Social Security, which keeps Medicare's address records, and use your special enrollment period: if you tell your plan before you move, it begins the month before the move and lasts 2 full months after it. A seasonal stay doesn't trigger it. See moving to Florida with Medicare.
To compare plans for your permanent county from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
What if I stay in Florida more than 6 months?
The out-of-area rule and visitor programs.
Can snowbirds keep an out-of-state Medigap in Florida?
Which state's Medigap rules apply.
Medicare when you live in Florida and Puerto Rico
Two places, two sets of plans.
Sources
- CMS — Medicare Advantage and Part D Enrollment and Disenrollment Guidance, contract year 2027 (section 20.3)
- eCFR — 42 CFR 422.50, Eligibility to elect an MA plan
- eCFR — 42 CFR 422.62, Election of coverage under an MA plan
- Medicare.gov — Special Enrollment Periods
- Florida Statutes — s. 222.17, Manifesting and evidencing domicile in Florida
- CMS — Choosing a Medigap Policy (2026)
More questions in this guide
- Does my Medicare Advantage plan cover me when I'm in Florida for the winter?
- Does Original Medicare work in every state for snowbirds?
- What happens to my Medicare Advantage plan if I stay in Florida more than 6 months?
- Does Medicare cover me if I live part of the year in Florida and part in Puerto Rico?
- Can snowbirds keep a Medigap policy bought in another state while in Florida?
- How do snowbirds get prescriptions filled in Florida and up north?
Part of the guide: Snowbirds and Medicare in Florida · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a Medicare plan in Florida and another in New York?
No. You can be enrolled in only one Medicare Advantage plan or one Part D plan at a time, and it must serve the area where you permanently live. You can keep one Medigap policy, which works in both states with Original Medicare.
Do I need a Florida driver's license to join a Florida plan?
There's no single required document. CMS lets plans ask for proof such as voter registration, driver's license records, tax records or utility bills when someone has more than one home, so your records should point to the same home.
Does a Florida Declaration of Domicile change my Medicare?
Not by itself. It's a voluntary sworn statement under Fla. Stat. 222.17 that Florida is your predominant and principal home. It can help show permanent residence, and making Florida your permanent home gives you a special enrollment period to change plans.
Medicare in your Florida county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Miami-Dade · Broward · Palm Beach · Hillsborough · Orange · Duval · Pinellas · Lee · Polk · Pasco · Brevard · Volusia · Seminole · Sarasota · Osceola · Manatee · Lake · Marion · Collier · St. Lucie · All 67 counties →
