New to The Villages? Your Medicare may need to move with you.
Many people come to The Villages from another state, and the Medicare plan that worked back home doesn't always work the same way in Central Florida. Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are based on your permanent address, and most Medicare Advantage plans use local provider networks.
If your current plan doesn't serve your new area, moving generally gives you a Special Enrollment Period to choose a plan available where you live now. If you have Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement policy, you can generally keep your policy when you move, although your premium may change.
Which county is your village in? It matters for Medicare.
The Villages spans parts of Sumter, Lake, and Marion counties. Medicare Advantage and Part D plan choices are set by county, so neighbors who live in different counties may see different plan options, even within the same community. Confirming your county is one of the first steps in comparing plans.
Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement in The Villages
Both paths can work well in The Villages. The right one usually comes down to whether you live here year-round, where you see your doctors, and how much flexibility you want.
Medicare Advantage may make sense in The Villages if you:
- Live in The Villages year-round and prefer getting care close to home
- Use doctors and hospitals that are in the networks of plans offered in your county
- Like having medical and often prescription coverage combined in one plan
- Want an annual limit on covered Part A and Part B out-of-pocket costs
Medicare Supplement may make sense in The Villages if you:
- Split time between The Villages and a home in another state
- Want to keep seeing doctors back home or in more than one area
- Want broad access to doctors and hospitals nationwide that accept Medicare
- Prefer more predictable medical cost sharing
For a deeper side-by-side look, see our Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement comparison.
Hospitals and health systems residents of The Villages often consider
Before comparing plans, it helps to know which hospitals you'd want access to for routine, emergency, and specialty care. People in and around The Villages often look at:
- UF Health The Villages Hospital in The Villages
- UF Health Leesburg Hospital in Leesburg
- AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares
- HCA Florida Ocala Hospital in Ocala
- Major health systems in Orlando and Gainesville for specialty care
Network participation varies by plan and can change each year, so confirm that the doctors and hospitals you use are in network before you enroll. Medicare at 65 is not affiliated with these hospitals, or with The Villages or its developer.
Snowbirds and part-time residents
Some residents spend part of the year in The Villages and part of the year up north. If that's you, where you officially live matters:
- Medicare Advantage and Part D: plans are based on your permanent residence, and most Medicare Advantage plans use local networks.
- Medicare Supplement: works with doctors and hospitals nationwide that accept Medicare, which can be helpful if you get care in more than one state.
- Making The Villages your permanent home: moving may give you a Special Enrollment Period to choose a plan that serves your new area.
Your Medicare checklist for The Villages
- List your doctors, including any you want to keep seeing back home.
- List your prescriptions and your preferred pharmacy.
- Decide which hospitals you'd want access to.
- Confirm your permanent address and whether your home is in Sumter, Lake, or Marion County.
- Check your enrollment timing, including a Special Enrollment Period if you recently moved.
- Compare Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement options side by side.
Turning 65 in The Villages or new to Medicare?
If you're approaching 65, start with our Turning 65 guide. Already have Part B? See what to do after getting Medicare Part B.