We've had the Internet for a very long time and changed providers multiple times.  Finally learned NOT to use the providers free email accounts.  When you change you lose contact with a lot of people or business's that you don't want to.

We now use gmail and changing providers has no effect on out emails. 

The worst thing using a providers email accounts is when you have your email saved by a company, doctor office etc. and they keep sending to an address you no long have access to.  In some cases I had to set up new accounts because their programmers didn't account for the possibility that you would ever change emails.