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My mother in law has moved from Michigan and will be splitting her time between my home in Illinois and with her daughter's home in Florida, about 6 months each year at each location. Do we need to find 2 primary care physicians? I'm wondering how other families have handled this and what challenges this may cause for her insurance.

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When my parents wintered in Texas, they found physicians there for primary conditions (cardiac, especially), and saw their regular physicians when they came back to Michigan. There's no reason why you can't have 2 sets of doctors. You can also ask them to provide written updates to the other set, so both are kept informed of your MIL's conditions and progress.

Just to clarify, your profile states you're caring for your mother. I assume your mother will continue to stay with you year around, but your MIL will be traveling to Florida?

My parents had Medicare when they were Winter Snowbirds; there was no problem whatsoever as long as they saw doctors who accepted Medicare. Given that Florida is a Snow Bird Haven, I would think there wouldn't be a shortage of doctors available to treat the older population.

What I would also suggest if it hasn't been done is what I did when my parents began traveling. I prepared Medical Histories for both, with basic information on family and emergency contacts, insurance, medications and allergies, current and past medical conditions, surgeries, pacemaker data, and of course a list of treating doctors and contact information.

My sister and I both had copies; Mom and Dad carried a set in their trailer. You could prepare a copy for MIL's daughter.

Honestly, the medical issues weren't so much of an issue as the trip down and back. Once my father called me and told me his trailer had gotten stuck in some soft ground; a sheriff's deputy helped him get the trailer "unstuck" but also warned him that alligators were present in the area.

So of course I began to worry about Dad stepping out of the truck and being faced with am aggressive reptile with a mouth full of massive and sharp teeth.

Breakdowns on the route were also a concern. We got special traveler's insurance for pull-behind trailers.

On another note, this could be an exciting time for your MIL with an opportunity to spend time with each of her families. Assuming both you and MIL's daughter have cameras, you could begin a scrapbook (online or hard copy) of activities which MIL can share with you with she returns, or with her daughter when she leaves your home.
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The first thing you do is move the health insurance from Michigan to a provider in Illinois. Then you ask them about snowbird coverage for mom, this may require an extra policy or an upgraded policy.
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