MelB52
Explorer
Joined 11 years ago
User Profile
User Widgets
All Activity
Re: Near retirement - health insurance
dahkota wrote: Flanz wrote: So, at this point you pay $600/month or $7200/year for health insurance? This is a silver plan form BCBS? For us, we're planning on $700/per month for a Bronze plan. We need to look around at SD, Texas, and FLA for completive plans and cost over the next few months. Out of pocket plus deductibles will also play a roll in the decision, but keeping an emergency fund for this will help. $552 per month for 2 to be exact. We went direct through BCBS (got our quote off their website) rather than through any of the exchanges. To shop rates, try ehealthinsurance.com. Use the zip code of any mail service you are considering. If you want a national network, you have to be careful with which plan you select. For BCBS, you must choose a PPO plan - I have been unable to find an HMO plan that has a nationwide network. In the example above, with the aneurism, deductibles mean nothing - the entire bill was probably significantly more than the max out of pocket. Regardless of what the deductibles are, if one has a significant medical event, one will have to pay at least the max out of pocket. (It is also important to check out of network coverage - some plans will not even cover you outside of network). You aren't saving any money by having low deductibles if you have a high max out of pocket. In South Dakota, there was one insurance company that may cover fulltimers but they had a very limited national network and it was more than three times what our current premiums are (for us). It took me months of research (and lots of spreadsheets) to work through all the cost/benefit analyses of various states for domicile. Health insurance was a huge factor in our decision. Ease of setting up residency was second. Texas and Florida came out on top for all the factors involved, with Florida the winner because of health care costs. I wish you the best. There are many things to work through and in the end, only you can make the decision that is best for your family. I'm doing research right now in preparation for our launch into full-timing in early 2016. It sometimes seems overwhelming; there is a lot of preparation necessary with regard to health insurance (DW will have Medicare, but I am 4 years away at this point), mail, banking, internet and phone, domicile, and on and on! You have certainly shared some good info here. We currently reside in Texas. We expect to sell our home (own it outright, so no mortgage), but we have close relatives who just may let us use their address for domicile purposes. (Is that advisable?) We would park the MH at their place whenever we need to return to the state for family reasons, vehicle inspection (I guess you have to continue to get that if TX is your domicile?), and whatever else might come up. (Although, we REALLY don't want to have to return to TX for at least one year after we hit the road.) But, you've made me think that we might need to look into Florida as our domicile. I really worry about getting health insurance coverage for myself that we can afford. I have hypertension, but it is well controlled with medication. Don't go to the doctor real often, but often enough -- maybe 4 times a year. Thanks so much for being willing to share the things you've found out through many hours of research. It helps me have a little peace of mind to know that others have "gone before" and have found ways to make it all work out. Much obliged, Mel343Views0likes0CommentsRe: Full-timing for 1 year...TT or FW?
trnfla, sure will say prayers for your grandbaby. Our first grandchild is arriving in May, so we're pretty tuned in on the grandbaby network. Know you are grateful for the remission your granddaughter is experiencing. Praying it is permanent.350Views0likes0CommentsRe: Full-timing for 1 year...TT or FW?
DW doesn't really need her own space. When she's had enough of me, she'll just go lay down on the bed with a book and tune me out. Ha. I certainly appreciate all the info, opinions, suggestions and ideas. My arthritis isn't so bad that I can't handle stairs. It takes me ten or fifteen minutes to get the joints going in the morning and then I'm ok...unless I sit for a long period and then I just have to start over with loosening up the knees. A shot in the knees every few months helps, too. But steps in a FW aren't an issue in the overall scheme of things. Based on everyone's replies, and considering our needs and wants, I've decided to go with a FW. I will look at 5ers in the 2006-2011 range and around 30' in length. We do want to be able to camp in national parks once in a while. Does anyone know what is the max length FW the national parks will allow in their campgrounds? I'll look for a 5er that is towable by a 3/4 ton truck. I definitely want a diesel. DW & I agree on all this because she trusts me. She only wants to be in charge of organizing the dishes and sheets and towels, and making sure there is room for the books she wants to read. Works out pretty well. I get what I want and she's literally a happy camper. And we all know that when mamma's happy, everyone's happy. Once we've purchased our truck and FW, I'll be sure and put a picture up. Again, thanks for all the replies. Really appreciate the input.350Views0likes0CommentsFull-timing for 1 year...TT or FW?
Hello everyone. I'm new to this forum, but not new to RVing. A little background: We've owned, in order: 1) Rockwood pup, 2) Skamper pup, 3) Terry Resort 24' TT (really like that Terry) and most recently 4) a R-Vision 26' Trail Lite TT. Seven years ago, we sold the Trail Lite TT and my truck when we bought a garden home and had no place to park the TT. And in those 7 years we have not really had the time to enjoy a RV. Now, however, at ages 61 & 64, we are planning our "bucket-list" trip to see our "must-see" places in the U.S. and parts of Canada. We plan on spending 12 to 18 months to accomplish this. We'll be purchasing a truck and TT or FW sometime in the summer of 2015 and will start our journey in early 2016. I have only towed the above-mentioned RVs. No real problems towing the TTs. (I never get in a hurry when towing.) However, I have friends who tell me that a FW is the way to go if we are going to do this trip. I also know that the debate over full-timing in a TT or FW rages on and on. However, I need to start the process of narrowing down my choices/options. TT or FW? I need the most simple set-up possible. With the TTs, I had anti-sway hitch systems, but never had the Hensley Arrow hitch. I hear it absolutely prevents sway. However, a buddy tells me a FW is a "piece of cake" to hitch and unhitch. And with a little arthritis in the joints, "piece of cake" is appealing. My priorities are, in order: 1) Safety 2) Quality construction. 3) Ease of hitching, unhitching and set-up 4) Overall interior comfort, storage, and functionality for FT living for one or two years 5) Bang for my buck A 4-season TT or FW would be nice, although we don't plan on being in extreme cold weather environs during the winter months. Double pane windows would be great. I really like the floor plan of the Rockwood 8280SS 5er, but have no idea what the construction is like. There are some TTs that look appealing, too. I look forward to hearing from some of you who have a lot of experience with both TTs and FWs from a full-timer's point of view. Many thanks, Mel3.2KViews0likes16Comments
Groups
Full Time RVers
Thinking about becoming a full-time RVer? Ask the experts.Dec 28, 20241,587 Posts
