Retired couple moving to Maine from MA (health insurance, condo)

[Philly8654]

Hello, first time posting! I've read quite a few posts about retiring to Maine but haven't read anything similar to our circumstances. We are a retired couple who own a condo in MA and are thinking about relocating permanently to our summer home located in southern Maine. Our biggest concern is health coverage. We both presently have Medicare and a supplemental insurance (BcBs Medex offered through the town where I used to teach, as well as a dental plan through the town). Is there anyone who has moved from MA to Maine and has had to enroll in another health insurance program? How do we go about this? Are there any other concerns that we should be aware of before we sell our condo and move? Also, we have a primary doctor that we have been seeing for the past 30 years as well as several specialists. Would we have to get new doctors or could we still see our existing doctors? If there are any retired teachers that have moved to Maine from MA that could give us any additional information it would be great. Any helpful tips are appreciated. Thanks.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

My wife was a retired teacher who taught in five other states besides Maine. There is a myth that you cannot collect social security if you were a teacher in Mane. That is not true. If your state had social security,you can collect from that source and you collect your Maine teacher retirement also.

The Maine Teachers Association has a BC/BS medical plan which you can continue into your retirement. You can keep your existing Mass BC/BS plan just as if you were going to Florida for the winter. Your plan is good nation-wide.

Unlike the famous quote, you can indeed keep your doctor and your specialists. BC/BC is called Anthem in Maine. Maine pharmacies will recognize your BC/BS.

Get a good snowblower.

[kellysmith]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

My wife was a retired teacher who taught in five other states besides Maine. There is a myth that you cannot collect social security if you were a teacher in Mane. That is not true. If your state had social security,you can collect from that source and you collect your Maine teacher retirement also.

The Maine Teachers Association has a BC/BS medical plan which you can continue into your retirement. You can keep your existing Mass BC/BS plan just as if you were going to Florida for the winter. Your plan is good nation-wide.

Unlike the famous quote, you can indeed keep your doctor and your specialists. BC/BC is called Anthem in Maine. Maine pharmacies will recognize your BC/BS.

Get a good snowblower.

Most of this is incorrect. If you have a medicare supplement from BC/BS in Mass and move to Maine to become a Maine resident, you cannot purchase insurance across state lines. That's one of the crazy, simple rules of the ACA that should be appealed, in fact it should even be law. Snowbirds keep their insurance because they remain residents of Maine. You will need to purchase the Maine version of Medicare supplement from BC/BS or some other policy licensed for the State. Best place for that info is from your insurance company since not always are internet forums accurate.
If you do collect SS and a state pension, there is a pretty serious penalty on the SS unless you have 30 years of what the Federal Gov't calls "substantial earnings". They have a chart that shows how much money that was for each year in the past. Good luck with your research.

[90077]

Call and set up an appointment with a counselor at the SMAAA. I found them helpful as I’m in the process of enrolling in a Medigap supplemental plan having recently relocated to ME: Southern Maine Agency on Aging

Also from the State’s website is more info on Medicare supplement policies: Maine Bureau of Insurance: Choosing a Medicare Supplement Policy

[Northern Maine Land Man]

kellysmith claims:
"Most of this is incorrect. If you have a medicare supplement from BC/BS in Mass and move to Maine to become a Maine resident, you cannot purchase insurance across state lines."

All of what I said is correct. I worked for a Massachusetts company for seven years. I lived in my house here in Maine for all of those seven years and still live here in the same house. My employer provided my medical coverage with a Massachusetts BC/BS policy.

Kellysmith is correct that you cannot shop for a new medical policy across state lines as you can an auto policy, but you can take your existing policy with you wherever you go, the Greek Islands, RV living for the rest of your life, sailing back and forth to Florida as you live on your boat. You can do all this stuff. People do it all the time.

[LarryLogger]

NMLM is correct.

I am soon retire from South Carolina and move to Maine. I am now vested in the state employee health plan and can bring it with me when I retire - it doesn't matter where I live, I'm covered. The plan is a BC/BS state plan and is not affected by crossing state lines.

Once in Maine, I'll be on my retirement health plan for a couple of years (age 62 to 65) until I transition over to Medicare and my state health plan will become a supplemental plan. I've been told that potential doctors and specalists will welcome my BC/BS plan with open arms as a "new patient", which might not be the case with basic Medicare. I'm just hoping for a simple process

[Maineac]

Let's stop giving out incorrect information. Better yet, if you don't actually know the answer, don't try to be an expert.
Employer based healthcare may be for life, available wherever they cover, maybe worldwide. You move to another State, you (generally) should still be able to get it.

Private healthcare insurance is based on State of residence. You HAVE to register in the State of residence and buy there.

There are also offshore insurance "gap" and full coverage companies for Ex-Pats living around the world outside of the 50 States. THOSE policies tend to cost annually about the same as ONE MONTH of what the private insurance monsters steal. Better coverage, too. We have the most expensive, low rated healthcare providing systems in the entire world. With a giant, blood sucking monster standing between you and your physician with their hand out. Screaming for more.

Here's a link to Healthcare.org. Read it. While the OP may be getting employer-based coverage that he can take with, he also may not. Funny. Big, bold print: "when you move to another State, you can't keep your plan." https://www.healthcare.gov/reporting...when-you-move/