Medicare for snowbirds

Original Medicare plus Medigap

For someone who lives in two places, Original Medicare paired with a Medigap policy is hard to beat. Neither has a network, so you can see any provider who accepts Medicare in either state — your summer doctor and your winter doctor are both in. Your costs stay the same wherever you are, and you don’t have to think about service areas or referrals when you move with the seasons.

Medicare Advantage and service areas

Medicare Advantage is anchored to a single service area tied to your primary home address, and you can generally only have one. In your second location, the plan typically covers emergency and urgent care but not routine visits, unless it’s a PPO or a plan that specifically includes travel or nationwide coverage. Some snowbirds make Advantage work by choosing such a plan, but it takes homework — and your primary address determines which plans you can even enroll in.

Prescriptions in two places

Part D plans have national pharmacy networks, so you can usually fill prescriptions in both locations as long as you use in-network pharmacies. Picking a plan whose preferred pharmacies have locations in both states keeps your costs down, and mail-order delivery can smooth out the transitions when you travel between homes.

Which fits a snowbird life

There’s no single right answer, but the pattern is clear: if seamless coverage in both homes is your priority, Original Medicare plus Medigap is the simplest path. If you prefer Medicare Advantage for its extra benefits or lower premiums, look specifically for a PPO or a plan with travel coverage, and confirm how it handles care away from your primary address before you enroll.