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mrbarkley's avatar
mrbarkley
Explorer
Nov 13, 2014

Problems with South Dakota Health Insurance for Full Timer's

I have been advised insurance companies in SD are excluding full-time RVER's who have only a mailing service as a residence address from obtaining health insurance. Does anyone know anything about this or have you run into this problem? I have been advised both Sanford and Avera Insurance companies will require a permanent address and will NOT accept a PMB as such. Sanford Insurance cancelled my insurance last year (without notice). I was able to reapply through the Marketplace (Healthcare.gov) and became insured by Avera insurance who had an out of network provider service. I have been advised my Avera insurance will be cancelled effective December 31st because I am a full time rver.

If anyone can help me out with this I would appreciate it.

Thank you - Ellen

19 Replies

  • I would highly suggest that you switch your domicile to Texas or Florida. Here's a post from today from a fellow full-timer under Medicare age. She has done a lot of research on this topic. It was posted on iRV2 full-timing forum. Good luck!

    --------------------------------------------------------------

    Health Insurance Exchange 2015 (pre-Medicare Fulltimers)

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Ok folks, open enrollment is just about to start. You can shop exchange plan rates now on HealthSherpa. I've been playing around on the site looking at our options (PPO plans only) and want to start a thread to share results. Please NO politics.

    https://www.healthsherpa.com

    -> Rates vary a lot by state, as expected. SD (Avera) offers the cheapest PPO plan of the "big 3" RV states (TX, SD, FL), but the we still don't know if they will accept fulltime RVers in 2015. Latest word (last month) was "no", but they may be reconsidering. Kyle told me today that he is still waiting on a final word from them (expected sometime this week). Even if Avera accepts RVers they may not offer care (except emergency) outside of SD.

    -> Subsidies vary a lot by state and zip! This was a surprise to me. TX is actually the 2nd cheapest state EXCEPT if you qualify for subsidies. Subsidies are significantly higher in FL.

    Here's some numbers for 2 people (mid 40's) with and without subsidies. This is for PPO plans only:

    SD Exchange (zip 57106 Minnehaha County)
    Avera Bronze PPO 6200 ($6200 deductible) $492
    Subsidy $60,000 level = $107 ==> $385
    Subsidy $50,000 level = $186 ==> $306
    Subsidy $40,000 level = $306 ==> $186

    FL Exchange (SKP Bushnell zip 33513)
    Assurant Bronze PPO 001 ($6000 deductible) $622/mo
    Subsidy $60,000 level = $177 ==> $445
    Subsidy $50,000 level = $256 ==> $366
    Subsidy $40,000 level = $376 ==> $246

    FL Exchange (St.Brendans Isle zip 32043 Clay County)
    Assurant Bronze PPO 001 ($6000 deductible) $634/mo
    Subsidy $60,000 level = $221 ==> $413
    Subsidy $50,000 level = $300 ==> $334
    Subsidy $40,000 level = $420 ==> $214

    TX Exchange (SKP Livingston zip 77351)
    BCBS Bronze PPO 006 ($6000 deductible) $584/mo
    Subsidy $60,000 level = $71 ==> $513
    Subsidy $50,000 level = $150 ==> $434
    Subsidy $40,000 level = $270 ==> $314

    I have yet to look into plan details (out of network caps etc.) so I have more work to do...but this is a preliminary landscape look.

    Nina
    __________________
    12 paws, 40 feet and the open road
    http://wheelingit.us
  • Thanks for the feedback. I turned 62 this year so Medicare is a few years away. My SD agent called last week to inform me that I would be getting a cancellation notice from Avera by the 15th of Nov. Mail is late this week with holiday, should get it tomorrow.
  • There is a lot of discussion on this and it is a REAL problem .. If you aren't aware you will be as they are dumping these as they find them. many Full timer blogs are full of information on this with many waiting to find out what this year will bring and planning a move to Florida or Texas. if you are pre medicare you have a problem. As I understand it there are plans that will cover you in SD but Not while you are travelling. ( kind of a problem unless you stay in SD )
  • My understanding (which could be wrong) is that SD problems are last years problems.

    Would love to hear some real info.
  • I am assuming you do not qualify for Medicare as then it would be a non issue and you could stay with straight Medicare.

    Here is a health insurance agent who has been following this issue in South Dakota.

    Health Insurance
  • This has been discussed extensively on various RV forums such as Escapees. People are changing residency to states such as Florida and Texas for just this reason. At this time, there is no insurer for full time RVers in SD but, I would wait until the exchange opens up on November 15 and check then, before making any changes.
  • There is a good thread on. Irv2 forum about this. Also the escapees is a good source of info.
  • I'd go back to the Marketplace and see what is being offered.

    Do you actually have a cancellation letter stating it is being cancelled because you don't have a residence??? Just asking!
  • Does your mailing service also offer a qualfying ""non-PMB" address? Ours does - it's used for voter registration and a library card, among other things.

    We thus have both a "domicile" address and a "mailing address". We've had no problems so far . . . but our monthly mail shipment arrives tomorrow, and we'll see if that brings anything from Humana . . .

    al