Health Insurance For Snowbirds

Finding a health insurance plan that covers your preferred healthcare providers and necessary medications can be a challenge, especially if you split your time between two states or travel frequently. A health insurance agent can help you find affordable health insurance that provides the coverage you need, wherever you are.

Health Insurance If You Have Two Addresses

If you have permanent addresses in two states, then you should purchase your health insurance in the state in which you live the longest timeframe, at least 6 months and 1 day. For snowbirds who spend the chillier months in one location and the warmer months in another, it can be tricky so it’s very important to speak with your agent. Especially if you are Medicare eligible. If you are under 65 and not Medicare eligible, you really should speak with your agent and let them know your plans for the upcoming year. They’ll check with the networks of the plans you are looking at enrolling into to see if you’ll have local coverage in the place you plan to temporarily visit.

Generally speaking, you should buy a plan in the state in which you call your permanent residence. If you spend 6 months and 1 day in one state, that should be the place in which you buy your health insurance plan. Make sure you get a plan that is a PPO if possible, with a nationwide network, so you can be “in network” in any state, to keep your medical expenses as low as possible. With a PPO, however, you can still see out of network doctors anywhere, you’ll just have higher medical costs. Some insurance plans will have “reciprocity” which will allow you to see doctors and providers in another state in which are part of the same company but in another state, so these doctors are “borrowed”. Having a knowledgeable agent that is reachable for these questions can be absolutely invaluable! Some HMO’s will allow you to visit other states, others will not. All will cover emergency, but what’s an emergency? Some plans will allow you to go to minute clinic’s nationwide, others will allow you into neighboring states like Utah. It’s a lot of information and getting accurate answers could save you thousands of dollars.​

Health Insurance for Frequent Travelers

If your health insurance plan meets the requirements of the Affordable Care Act, then it covers you if you have an emergency and need medical attention when you are outside of your plan’s network. Some but not all employer-sponsored plans may have nationwide networks, but individual market plans usually have localized networks. When traveling, if possible, call the number on the back of your insurance card, the “Member Services” number, and tell them you are traveling, and ask for assistance. You can explain your situation or medical conditions you are experiencing, and they will be able to guide you in getting coverage where you are visiting/traveling.

How Can Nevada Insurance Enrollment Help?

Different health insurance policies have different coverages for out-of-network care and making assumptions about what your plan covers can be a costly mistake. If you split your time between homes in two different states, a Nevada Insurance Enrollment health insurance agent can help you determine what your best health insurance option is based on your needs and budget. We have answers because we do thorough research into all of Nevada’s options and know what plans may or may not work for you. Give us a call to discuss your options.