Her retirement checks are deposited electronically. She needs to get a new bank in Fl. Should she change address on retirement checks and then change banks? Will Social Security and Medicare be different in FL from what she has in PA?
If she has Medicare advantage, she will have to change her health insurance provider. If she is on Medicaid, she will have to enroll in Florida Medicaid, which is a managed care program. That means Florida will decide what MD's she can see and what hospitals she can go to. USPS has a very simple address change on line which will notify correspondents and forward mail. Make a list of everything that is electronically deposited, all those senders have to be notified of the new banking information. Same for bills that are auto-pay.
If the possibility exists that you will still be involved in dealing with moms financials even though she moves to FL and your brother will become the main point person for mom, I'd suggest that mom get a bank that is in both states. Chase seems to be everywhere, perhaps them or another bigger banking group that is both FL & PA. Then get everything -her retirement, SS check, etc- all direct deposited to ths account. Get online access X 3: you, brother & mom. Mom goes ahead & opens it now in PA with you as a signature & POD and then transitions to FL as needed & add brother as another signature & POD.
Now timing this is tricky. Look to see when she gets paid, then perhaps 3 -5 days after each monthly payment goes through, go on line to get the payment DD to the new bank. Make sure you have the exactly correct bank routing # too & get a bank officers business card for future reference.
Both SS& Medicare are federal entitlement programs so totally portable from state to state. Mom may find that she has more doctors who take Medicare in FL than she did in PA so that's a bonus for the move to sunny warmer FL.
I'd also make sure that mom has a fresh refill on all her prescriptions too. Good luck & nice she is moving after hurricane season!
If moms docs have transitioned to electronic medical records, you can see that if you get them a thumb drive, IF they will copy her file for you. Then you have it if need be.
I was thinking what about the future of her health care etc? Hopefully you and your brother are on the same page so there won't be conflict in the future when, not IF your moms health takes a downward turn. You don't want someone making decisions about what'll happen to her, and you not having any input. And when the brother needs a break from mom, what will your role be? Are you going to come and relieve his duties so he can take a break at least once a year or whatever? Now is the time to get this stuff ironed out I'd say.
Thank you so much for all who have taken time to respond. I am printing out your answers to share with Mom. She does not want her own computer yet but we are working on it. All answers will give us direction. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I wouldn't change anything yet. We moved my grandmother from IL. to AZ. to live with her son and the drastic move, immediately put her in a tail spin. Moving a stressful for anyone, let alone the elderly. (We moved her back to IL. within 2 weeks.)
USPS has a very simple address change on line which will notify correspondents and forward mail. Make a list of everything that is electronically deposited, all those senders have to be notified of the new banking information. Same for bills that are auto-pay.
Now timing this is tricky. Look to see when she gets paid, then perhaps 3 -5 days after each monthly payment goes through, go on line to get the payment DD to the new bank. Make sure you have the exactly correct bank routing # too & get a bank officers business card for future reference.
Both SS& Medicare are federal entitlement programs so totally portable from state to state. Mom may find that she has more doctors who take Medicare in FL than she did in PA so that's a bonus for the move to sunny warmer FL.
I'd also make sure that mom has a fresh refill on all her prescriptions too. Good luck & nice she is moving after hurricane season!
If moms docs have transitioned to electronic medical records, you can see that if you get them a thumb drive, IF they will copy her file for you. Then you have it if need be.