Jeffrey Wade
Moving to a new address can be an exciting but stressful time, with a lot to organise. It is important to remember to keep your health insurance plan in mind, as your coverage options may change based on your new address. If you are moving out of state, you will almost certainly need to purchase a new plan, as individual market coverage is regulated and marketed at the state level. If you are moving within the same state, you may be able to keep your current plan if the plan's network still includes the geographic area you are moving to. In any case, you should contact your employer and/or insurance company to understand how your move will affect your insurance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What to do when moving | Report your change of address and update your application. |
| If moving out of state, start a new Marketplace application and enroll in a new plan. | |
| If you have Medicare, update your address by calling the Social Security Administration. | |
| If you have Medicaid, you cannot transfer coverage from one state to another. | |
| If you have Original Medicare, you can keep it no matter where you live in the US. | |
| If moving into or out of a nursing facility, your Special Enrollment Period lasts as long as you live there and for two months after you move out. | |
| If you move out of your Part C plan's service area, you will be automatically enrolled in Original Medicare. | |
| If you buy your health insurance in the individual market, you'll have to purchase a new plan. | |
| If you work for a large employer with business locations throughout the country, your coverage may remain unchanged. | |
| If you have a new domestic partner, check if the new plan provides partner benefits. | |
| If you are moving to a new job that offers health insurance, there may be a waiting period of up to 90 days. | |
| If you are self-employed, look into Obamacare special enrollment or short-term health plans. | |
| If you are a student or recent graduate, look into your options for health insurance. | |
| If you are a federal government employee, look into your coverage options. | |
| If you are a senior, look into your Medicare options. | |
| If you are moving to a new zip code, check if your insurance covers that area. |
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What You'll Learn
Report your move to your insurance provider
Moving to a new location can be stressful, and it's important to ensure that your health insurance coverage remains intact throughout the transition. Here are some detailed steps to help you report your move to your insurance provider and navigate any necessary changes to your plan:
- Contact your insurance company directly: Get in touch with your insurance provider as soon as you know about your upcoming move. Ask about the specific procedures for reporting a change of address and any potential impact on your coverage.
- Understand the impact of moving on your insurance: The consequences of moving on your health insurance depend on various factors, including the type of insurance you have, the carrier, and the state you're moving to. Ask your insurance provider if your current plan's network covers the geographic area you're moving to. If it doesn't, you may need to switch plans or providers.
- Be mindful of special enrollment periods: Moving to a new state typically triggers a special enrollment period if you already had health insurance coverage before your move. This allows you to select a new plan outside of the annual open enrollment period. However, there may be a gap in coverage between your current plan and the new one.
- Consider short-term health insurance: If you miss the special enrollment window, consider enrolling in a short-term health insurance plan to bridge the gap until the next open enrollment period. These plans can provide temporary coverage for unexpected illnesses and injuries, but they have limited benefits and are not available in all states.
- Update your personal information: Once you've confirmed the details of your insurance coverage at your new location, update your personal information with your insurance provider, including your new address, email, and phone number.
- Review your coverage options: When moving to a new state, premiums, deductibles, and copay or coinsurance amounts may vary. Review these changes and determine if you qualify for any subsidies or adjustments to help with the costs.
Remember, it's crucial to stay on top of any changes to your healthcare plan when you move to ensure continuous coverage and avoid paying for unnecessary or unusable services.
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Enquire about special enrollment periods
Moving to a new state will trigger a special enrollment period as long as you already had health insurance coverage before your move. This is because, in the individual market, health insurance is regulated and marketed at the state level, so a new plan is needed when moving from one state to another.
You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you or anyone in your household lost qualifying health coverage in the past 60 days or expects to lose coverage in the next 60 days. If you lose health coverage through your employer or the employer of a family member, including if you lose coverage through a parent or guardian because you are no longer a dependent, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. However, choosing to drop your coverage as a dependent does not qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period. You must also have a decrease in household income or a change in your previous coverage that made you eligible for savings on a Marketplace plan.
You can also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you have had certain life events, including getting married, having a baby, adopting a child, or if your household income is below a certain amount. For instance, if you gain a new dependent or become someone else's dependent due to a child support or other court order, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Your coverage will start on the same day as the effective date of the court order, even if you enroll in the plan up to 60 days afterward.
Other situations that may qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period include facing a serious medical condition, natural disaster, or other national or state-level emergency that kept you from enrolling on time. For example, if you experienced an unexpected hospitalization or temporary cognitive disability, or if a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, occurred in your county, you may be eligible. You have 60 days from the end of the FEMA-designated incident period to complete your enrollment in Marketplace coverage.
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Consider short-term health insurance plans
If you're moving to a new state, you may need to consider a short-term health insurance plan to cover you during the transition. Short-term health insurance plans are typically purchased online and can be obtained via a website that offers multiple companies' plans or directly from an insurance company that sells short-term plans.
Short-term health insurance offers temporary coverage to fill a gap between other health plans, such as when you are between jobs or waiting for another insurance coverage plan to take effect. It is important to note that short-term health insurance is not comprehensive coverage and is not regulated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or other federal health insurance rules. These plans are typically much more affordable than major medical plans, with monthly premiums as low as $55, but they may not cover pre-existing conditions, maternity care, or mental health services.
Short-term health insurance plans generally cover a range of physician services, surgery, outpatient and inpatient care, emergency hospital visits, certain prescription medications, and some doctor's appointments. However, it is important to carefully read the "exclusions and limitations" information before purchasing a plan to understand what is covered and what is not.
While short-term health insurance can be a good option for individuals who are healthy and do not generally require health services, it is not a substitute for a traditional health plan. When your short-term plan ends, you will need to purchase a regular plan during open enrollment, as short-term plans are not considered minimum essential coverage and do not trigger a special enrollment period.
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Understand how your location affects your coverage
Location can have an impact on your health insurance coverage and savings options. If you move to a new state, you will likely need to start a new application and pick a new plan. This is because individual market coverage is regulated at the state level, so a new plan is needed when moving from one state to another. Even if your health insurer offers plans throughout the country, you will need to re-enroll in a new plan once you move. This is because insurers have different individual market plans in each state.
If you have employer-sponsored health insurance, your employer has likely already worked out the details if you need to move between different locations for your job. They probably have a plan with a nationwide network and coverage in all the areas where their employees live and work. However, if you buy your own health insurance, you will have to purchase a new plan.
If you have Medicare, you can use it nationwide, giving you the flexibility to live in another state for part of the year. Original Medicare plus a Medigap plan will cover most costs, but not prescription drugs. For that, you will need a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. These are sold by private health insurance companies, and your options are based on your primary location. Some Part D plans have nationwide networks, while others are more localized.
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage PPO, you will have some coverage for out-of-network care, but your costs will be higher than if you remained in-network.
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Explore different insurance options
When it comes to exploring different insurance options, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, it is important to understand the different types of insurance plans available. In the US, there are four categories of health insurance plans: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. These categories indicate how costs are shared between you and your insurance provider. It is worth noting that these categories do not reflect the quality of care provided. When choosing a plan, it is essential to consider both your monthly premium payments and potential out-of-pocket costs.
Secondly, the type of insurance plan you choose will depend on your specific needs and preferences. For example, an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plan typically limits coverage to a network of contracted medical providers, and you may have to pay more to use out-of-network services. On the other hand, a POS (Point of Service) plan allows you to use out-of-network providers for an additional cost and requires a referral from your primary care doctor to see a specialist.
Thirdly, when exploring insurance options, it is crucial to compare plans and prices. Online tools and comparison websites can assist in this process by allowing you to view plans, prices, and quality ratings side by side. You can input your income and household information to estimate prices based on your financial situation. Additionally, you can search for specific doctors, medical facilities, and prescription drugs to ensure they are covered by the plans you are considering.
Lastly, it is important to be aware of the impact of moving to a different state on your insurance coverage. Each state has its own regulations and plans, so moving to a new state will likely require enrolling in a new plan. Special enrollment periods are triggered when moving to a new state, as long as you had prior coverage. Premiums can vary based on age, zip code, and tobacco use, so costs may differ in your new location.
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Frequently asked questions
If your insurance coverage area does not include your new location, you will most likely need to purchase a new plan. Contact your insurance company to understand how your move will affect your insurance.
Moving to a new state will trigger a special enrollment period as long as you already had coverage before your move. You will need to start a new application and enroll in a plan in your new state.
You need to make changes to your health insurance within 30 to 60 days of the date of your move.
