How to Change Your Address With Medicare

How to update your address with Medicare

You can change your Medicare address through Medicare.gov, by phone, by mail, or in person at a Social Security office. The fastest route is online if you have a Medicare.gov account — the change takes about five minutes and shows up in your records within a few days. If you do not have an online account, calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is the next quickest option, and the representative can update your address while you are on the phone.

Your address change affects your Medicare card, your billing statements, and where Medicare sends notices about coverage changes or appeals. If you move and do not update your address, you may miss important letters about your coverage or important date to make changes to your plan. The update applies to all parts of Medicare you have — Part A, Part B, Part D, and any Medicare Advantage plan.

Key Takeaways

You can update your address online at Medicare.gov, by calling 1-800-MEDICARE, by mail to Social Security, or in person at a Social Security office.
Online updates through Medicare.gov take about five minutes and appear in your records within a few days.
Your address change applies to your Medicare card, billing statements, and all notices Medicare sends you.
If you move and do not update your address, you may miss letters about plan changes, open enrollment periods, or appeals important date.
You will receive a new Medicare card in the mail within 7 to 10 business days of your address change.

Updating your address online through Medicare.gov

Go to Medicare.gov and sign in with your username and password. If you do not have a Medicare.gov account, you can create one using your email address and a password you choose. Once you are signed in, look for "Personal Information" or "Profile Settings" in the account menu — the exact wording varies depending on which device you are using.

Click on the address field and enter your new street address, city, state, and ZIP code. Make sure the address is spelled correctly and includes your apartment or unit number if you have one. After you save the change, you will see a confirmation message on the screen. Medicare will mail you a new Medicare card to your new address within 7 to 10 business days.

Keep your old Medicare card until you receive the new one. If you need to use your Medicare benefits before the new card arrives, you can show the confirmation email from Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE to confirm your coverage.

Changing your address by phone

Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and tell the representative you need to update your address. Have your current Medicare number ready — it is on your Medicare card or in any recent letter from Medicare. The representative will ask you to confirm your name, date of birth, and Social Security number before making any changes.

Give the representative your complete new address, including apartment or unit number if applicable. The representative will read the address back to you to make sure it is correct. The change takes effect when ready in Medicare's system, though your new Medicare card will still take 7 to 10 business days to arrive in the mail.

Call during business hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call 1-877-486-2048 (TTY). If English is not your first language, interpreters are available at no cost.

Updating your address by mail or in person

If you prefer to update your address without using the phone or internet, you can mail a request to Social Security. Send a letter to the Social Security office that handles your case — you can find the address by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visiting ssa.gov. Include your name, date of birth, Social Security number, current address, and new address in the letter.

You can also visit a Social Security office in person and ask to update your Medicare address. Bring your Medicare card and a form of identification with your photo. The office will process the change on the spot, though the new card will still arrive by mail within 7 to 10 business days.

Mail updates typically take 2 to 3 weeks to process, so this method is slower than calling or using Medicare.gov. If you are moving soon and need your new card quickly, online or phone updates are better choices.

What happens after you change your address

Medicare will send you a new card to your new address within 7 to 10 business days. The card number stays the same — only the address on the card changes. You do not need to do anything else; the update is complete once you receive the new card.

All future bills, statements, and notices from Medicare will go to your new address. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D prescription drug plan, those insurers will also receive your updated address and will send their mail to the new location. You do not need to contact them separately unless you want to confirm the address change.

If you move again before your new card arrives, you can update your address a second time. Just use the same method — online, phone, or mail — and provide the newer address. Medicare will send another card to the most recent address you provided.

Common mistakes to avoid when changing your address

Do not assume your address change is complete until you receive your new Medicare card. Some people update their address online and then forget to check their mail, so they miss the new card when it arrives. Set a reminder to look for it about 10 days after you make the change.

Do not throw away your old Medicare card until the new one arrives. If you need to use Medicare before the new card shows up, you can still use the old card — the address on the card does not affect your coverage. Once the new card arrives, you can safely destroy the old one.

Do not forget to update your address with your doctor's office, pharmacy, or other healthcare providers separately. Medicare's address change does not automatically update your records with individual providers. Call your doctor and pharmacy to give them your new address so they can send you appointment reminders and prescription information to the correct location.

If you have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan

When you update your address with Medicare, the change is automatically sent to your Medicare Advantage plan (if you have one) and your Part D prescription drug plan (if you have one). You do not need to contact these plans separately to update your address.

However, if you want to confirm the address change or if you notice that mail from your plan is still going to your old address after two weeks, you can call the plan directly. The phone number is on your plan's insurance card or in any recent letter from the plan. The representative can verify that your address has been updated in their system.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for my address change to show up in Medicare's system?

Online changes through Medicare.gov appear in the system within a few days. Phone updates take effect when ready. Mail and in-person updates at Social Security take 2 to 3 weeks. Your new Medicare card arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days regardless of which method you use.

Can I update my address if I am moving to a different state?

Yes, you can update your address to any state. Your Medicare coverage does not change when you move. However, if you have a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D plan, you should check whether that specific plan covers your new location, as some plans have geographic limits.

What if I do not receive my new Medicare card after 10 business days?

Call 1-800-MEDICARE and tell them you did not receive your card. They can confirm your address is correct in the system and request a replacement card to be mailed. If your address was entered incorrectly, they can fix it and send a new card to the correct address.

Do I need to update my address with Social Security separately from Medicare?

If you update your address through Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE, the change is sent to Social Security automatically. You do not need to contact Social Security separately. If you update your address in person at a Social Security office, that office will update both your Social Security record and your Medicare record.

What if I am moving temporarily and plan to move back to my old address?

Update your address to your temporary location. When you move back, you can update it again using the same method. Medicare does not limit how many times you can change your address, so you can update it as often as you need to.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.