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1. Before You Move (60–90 Days Out)
Tell your current Medicare plan you are moving. Notifying them before the move gives you the longest possible enrollment window — the month before your move plus two full months after.
Write down every prescription — drug name, dose, and how often. You will need this list to compare Part D drug coverage in your new county.
Request copies of your medical records or make sure you can log in to your patient portal. Transfers are much easier before you leave.
If you have a Medigap (Supplement) policy, call your insurer and ask what happens to your policy and premium in your new state. It usually moves with you, but the price can change.
Note your doctors' names — including specialists — so you can check whether comparable providers are in-network where you are going.
2. Right After You Arrive
Update your address with Social Security — online at ssa.gov or by phone at 1-800-772-1213. Social Security handles address changes for Medicare, even if you are not drawing benefits yet.
Use your Special Enrollment Period. You have roughly two months after your move to choose a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for your new county. Mark the deadline on your calendar the day you arrive.
Confirm your new doctors are (a) in your plan's network and (b) accepting new patients. In fast-growing areas, "accepting new patients" is the step that surprises people.
Transfer your prescriptions to a local pharmacy and confirm it is in your new plan's pharmacy network.
3. Make It Official: Residency and Taxes
Your Medicare plan options are based on your permanent residence, so these steps matter for your coverage — not just the DMV.
Get your new state driver's license or ID.
Register your vehicle in your new state.
Register to vote at your new address.
4. Settle In
Find your people. Senior centers, community rec centers, and churches are the fast lane to feeling at home. Both Mesa and St. George have thriving pickleball scenes — beginner sessions are one of the easiest ways to meet neighbors (ask us, we coach).
Locate the nearest urgent care and emergency room that your plan covers, before you need them.
Schedule a "get established" visit with your new primary care doctor rather than waiting until something is wrong.
Want a Second Set of Eyes on Your Move?
We are licensed in Utah and Arizona and help new arrivals sort out their coverage every enrollment season. There is no cost to talk it through.
This checklist is educational and is not enrollment advice for any specific plan. Plan availability varies by county and eligibility. For information on all your options, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.