New York's rule stays in New York
New York's Department of Financial Services says state law and regulation require any insurer writing Medigap in New York to accept a Medicare enrollee's application at any time of year, without denying coverage or charging more because of health status. That protection is set by New York for people living there. When you move, it doesn't come with you.
North Carolina has no Medigap birthday rule, anniversary rule or yearly switching right (G.S. 58, Article 54). As a North Carolina resident, a company can ask health questions and decline you or charge more, unless you have a guaranteed-issue right.
Your options
| Option | Health questions? |
|---|---|
| Keep your New York policy after the move (with Original Medicare) | No. The policy keeps working with any provider in the U.S. who accepts Medicare; the premium may change. |
| Change policies while you still live in New York | No, under New York's year-round rule. Ask the new company how the policy will work and be priced after you move. |
| Buy a different policy after you live in North Carolina | Usually yes, unless you have a guaranteed-issue right. |
| Leaving a New York Medicare Advantage plan because you moved | No, for Medigap Plan A, B, D or G (C or F if eligible before 2020), from 60 days before the plan ends to 63 days after. |
| Medicare SELECT policy and you leave its area | No, for Plan A, B, D or G from a company in New York or North Carolina, within the same 60-day/63-day window. |
Before you move
- Decide whether your plan letter still fits. If you want to change, compare while New York's rule still applies to you.
- Ask your company about the move. Find out what your premium will be at your North Carolina address.
- Don't drop your policy until a new one is approved. Once you live in North Carolina, getting Medigap back can mean underwriting.
New North Carolina policies have a 30-day free look with a full refund (G.S. 58-54-30). 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
Can I keep my Medigap?
What moves with you, and what doesn't.
New Yorker by way of Florida?
How Medicare works for half-backs.
What happens to my Medicare if I move?
Every kind of coverage, one table.
Sources
- New York Department of Financial Services — Protections for Medicare Beneficiaries Residing in New York (Medigap open enrollment)
- Medicare.gov — Choosing a Medigap Policy (if you move; guaranteed issue rights)
- North Carolina General Statutes — Chapter 58, Article 54
- N.C.G.S. 58-54-30 — Notice of free examination
More questions in this guide
- Can I keep my Medicare Advantage plan if I move to North Carolina?
- Can I keep my Medigap 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
Does New York's Medigap open enrollment follow me to North Carolina?
No. New York's year-round acceptance is New York law, described by New York's Department of Financial Services as a protection for Medicare beneficiaries residing in New York. North Carolina's rules apply to a policy you buy as a North Carolina resident.
Will my New York Medigap premium change after I move?
It may. Medigap prices depend on the company, the plan letter and where you live, so ask your company before you move how it will price your policy at a North Carolina address.
When can I switch Medigap without health questions in North Carolina?
In your first Medigap open enrollment period at 65, or with a federal guaranteed-issue right, such as leaving a Medicare Advantage plan because you moved out of its area or because the plan ended. North Carolina adds no yearly switching right.
Medicare in your North Carolina county
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