Medicare for Snowbirds and Retirees Moving to Florida: 2026 Planning Guide

Florida is the top destination for retirees in the country -- and for good reason. No state income tax, warm weather, excellent healthcare infrastructure, and one of the most competitive Medicare markets in the US.

But moving to Florida -- whether permanently or as a snowbird -- has important Medicare implications. Getting this wrong can leave you without coverage or paying out-of-network rates for care.

Here's everything you need to know.

If you're making Florida your permanent home, you need to update your Medicare coverage to reflect your new state. Your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan may not serve Florida -- and if it doesn't, you'll need to switch.

Your Special Enrollment Period: Moving to a new service area triggers an SEP. You have 2 months from your move date to enroll in a Florida Medicare plan. Don't wait until AEP -- you could go months without proper coverage.

What to do:

1. Notify Medicare of your address change (1-800-MEDICARE or Medicare.gov)
2. Check whether your current MA or Part D plan serves your new Florida ZIP code
3. If not, use your SEP to enroll in a Florida plan
4. If you have Medigap, your coverage follows you -- no change needed

If you split time between Florida and another state, your Medicare coverage needs to work in both places. This is where many snowbirds run into problems.

Medicare Advantage HMO plans are the most common type in Florida -- and the most problematic for snowbirds.

The issue: HMO plans only cover care within their service area (typically one or a few counties). Outside the service area, they only cover emergency care. A routine doctor visit, specialist appointment, or prescription refill in your home state is NOT covered.

Real example: A Palm Coast snowbird on a Volusia County HMO plan spends 5 months in New Jersey. She needs to see her cardiologist in NJ. The HMO won't cover it -- she pays out of pocket.

This is the gold standard for snowbirds. Original Medicare works at any Medicare-accepting provider in the country -- no service areas, no networks, no restrictions.

With Medigap Plan G, you pay nothing after the Part B deductible ($283/year) regardless of which state you're in.

The trade-off: Monthly Medigap premium ($120-$180/month in Florida for a 65-year-old). But for snowbirds who use healthcare in multiple states, this is almost always worth it.

PPO plans allow you to see out-of-network providers -- including providers in other states -- at higher cost-sharing. You're not locked into a service area for non-emergency care.

Best PPO options for snowbirds:

• UnitedHealthcare AARP Medicare Advantage PPO -- one of the strongest nationwide networks
• Humana PPO -- broad national network
• Aetna PPO -- strong in both Florida and Northeast states

The trade-off: Out-of-network care costs more (higher copays/coinsurance). And you still need to verify your out-of-state doctors accept the plan.

Some snowbirds try to maintain coverage in both states -- a Florida plan for winter and a home-state plan for summer. This is generally not allowed under Medicare rules. You can only be enrolled in one Medicare Advantage plan at a time.

Volusia County (Daytona Beach area)

• 45+ Medicare Advantage plans available
• Halifax Health, AdventHealth, and multiple hospital systems
• Strong Medigap market with competitive rates
• My home market -- I know every plan here

Flagler County (Palm Coast)

• 35+ Medicare Advantage plans
• AdventHealth Palm Coast as primary hospital
• Growing retirement community with improving healthcare infrastructure
• Satellite office in Palm Coast -- I serve this market directly

Sarasota County

• 50+ Medicare Advantage plans
• Sarasota Memorial Hospital -- one of Florida's top-rated hospitals
• Strong Medigap market
• Popular with Midwest retirees

Collier County (Naples)

• 45+ Medicare Advantage plans
• NCH Healthcare System
• High-income retiree market -- strong Medigap penetration
• Popular with Northeast retirees

Pinellas County (St. Petersburg, Clearwater)

• 55+ Medicare Advantage plans
• BayCare and Bayfront Health systems
• Excellent healthcare infrastructure
• Popular with Midwest and Northeast retirees

Sumter County (The Villages)

• 40+ Medicare Advantage plans
• The Villages Health system
• One of the largest retirement communities in the world
• Very competitive MA market

For Medicare purposes, your permanent residence determines your plan's service area. Medicare uses your address on file with Social Security.

Snowbird rule of thumb: If you spend more than 6 months in Florida, you should consider Florida your primary residence for Medicare purposes. Update your address with Social Security and Medicare.

Important: You don't need to be a Florida resident to enroll in a Florida Medicare plan. If you have a Florida address (even a seasonal one), you can enroll in Florida plans.

1. Get your prescriptions filled before you travel If you're on an HMO plan, your preferred pharmacy network may not extend to your home state. Fill a 90-day supply before leaving Florida.

2. Carry your Medicare card and plan ID card Emergency care is covered anywhere in the US under Medicare Advantage. Make sure you have your cards.

3. Establish care in both states If you're on a PPO or Medigap plan, establish relationships with primary care doctors in both Florida and your home state. Don't wait until you're sick.

4. Review your plan every AEP Your snowbird situation may change -- and so do plan benefits. Review your coverage every October before the December 7 deadline.

5. Consider telehealth Many Medicare plans now cover telehealth visits. This can bridge gaps when you're between states.

Moving to Florida is one of the best decisions many retirees make. But don't let Medicare coverage be an afterthought. The right plan for your new Florida life may be very different from what worked in your home state.

I help retirees from all 50 states navigate the transition to Florida Medicare -- comparing every plan available in your new ZIP code and making sure your doctors, prescriptions, and lifestyle are covered.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.