Need Help on how to get health insurance while traveling

luvmydogs wrote:
We are going to be in at least 4-6 states. My insurance now is thru ACA but there is nothing I can find that will cover me no matter what state I'm in.

First, read this SEP FAQ.

Second, use www.healthsherpa.com to find health insurance plans.

You have options.

We have Blue Cross Blue Shield and they cover us anywhere in the US. They pay for any medically necessary procedures wherever we are. It's a PPO so we need to use "in network" providers, but there are lots everywhere. We are in Mobile Alabama at the moment and there are 470 different doctors we can use within 20 miles of our current location. It's a bit pricey, but until Medicare kicks in it is what we use.

Really? They paid for it? You've got a dream insurance company then. Most we have had its a hope and a prayer you get anyone to talk to who knows anything, and then they read you the rules like it was law, and they wont bend anything. Whatever makes them money. Your very lucky.

I'm going to offer my thoughts about this. Your policy probably will cover "emergencies" in any state and that will include any surgical procedures that are required for that emergency and possible hospital stay. It will not, however, cover any elective surgical procedures or non-emergency doctor visits - therefore, no doctor visits for routine matters or prescription refills, etc.

I could be completely wrong on this, but we had a problem with ours a couple of years ago when we were out of state and one of my daughters developed a UTI. They told me we had to bring her back to Virginia to see a doctor - they looked up the closest one and it was a 12.5 hour drive. We declined and I asked to speak to her supervisor. We got it cleared up pretty quickly.

We are going to be in at least 4-6 states. My insurance now is thru ACA but there is nothing I can find that will cover me no matter what state I'm in. Only being insured in your state lines is a travesty. But then nothing would surprise me in this country lately of how low we've gotten. Other than Medicare, how do you full time travelers get health insurance? Or do you all go uninsured?

HadEnough wrote:
You have to enroll by a certain date in a certain state, I'm a full-time traveler. I'm a lot more of a citizen of the United States than of my certain state where everything is registered.

If you have insurance through the ACA, then this isn't true. The ACA has SEP (Special Enrollment Period) for people who have special conditions -- Moving is one of these.

Being out of state for 6 months should qualify you for a SEP. If so, you would enroll in a health plan in the state where you're staying.

luvmydogs wrote:
The only thing my insurance covers out of state is emergency room. Well that's great but if its something that needs surgery or if you have a stroke or something, that emergency room coverage wont cover it. I'm not old enough for medicare yet. So basically no one knows of any policies or coverage that covers you out of your own state? And basically the way the insurance works nowadays, you are held hostage in your own state, or pray that nothing happens to you when you cross state lines.

Looking forward to an answer. This is a great question you brought up. I am stuck without any insurance because nothing works. You have to enroll by a certain date in a certain state, I'm a full-time traveler. I'm a lot more of a citizen of the United States than of my certain state where everything is registered.

The only thing my insurance covers out of state is emergency room. Well that's great but if its something that needs surgery or if you have a stroke or something, that emergency room coverage wont cover it. I'm not old enough for medicare yet. So basically no one knows of any policies or coverage that covers you out of your own state? And basically the way the insurance works nowadays, you are held hostage in your own state, or pray that nothing happens to you when you cross state lines.

wanderingaimlessly wrote:
All insurance has some provision for travel. Otherwise nobody in Ct would be able to ever leave, and while some politicians may like that concept, it just doesn't work.

Check with your insurance and verify how they handle emergencies outside of Ct. They have a policy.
For Rx refills you may have to hire a mail forwarding service for the duration of your travels.

This is correct. Your insurance will have a provision for out of area, out of network coverage whether you have a PPO, an HMO or any other type of policy. Your out of area or network copays and deductibles will likely be higher.

All insurance has some provision for travel. Otherwise nobody in Ct would be able to ever leave, and while some politicians may like that concept, it just doesn't work.

Check with your insurance and verify how they handle emergencies outside of Ct. They have a policy.
For Rx refills you may have to hire a mail forwarding service for the duration of your travels.