So you’ve decided to move to another state. Whether you’re moving for a new job, to be closer to family, or just for a change of scenery, there’s a lot to think about. One of the most important things you need to do is to get new health insurance when moving to another state. You need to be careful not to miss deadlines and to have all the paperwork in order before you relocate.
Transferring health insurance to another state may seem like a hard and complicated thing to do, but if you follow our tips and organize your move like a pro, you will be able to enjoy a new chapter of your life without any trouble.
Do You Need to Get New Health Insurance When Moving to Another State?
If you wonder “can I use my health insurance in another state” the answer is no. You will probably have to change your plan.
There will be a lot of government bodies you need to notify about your move, and Marketplace is one of those entries. The crucial thing on your relocation checklist is to change your health insurance plan. If you are relocating to Seattle from California, for example, you will not be able to keep your old insurance. Each state has its own hospital network and insurance companies that cover that network, so you will have to report your relocation to the Marketplace as soon as may be to ensure that you are protected. By doing so, you can sign up for a new plan and save money on the insurance that you won’t need in your new state. Here are the steps you need to take:
Reporting Insurance Change When Relocating to a New State
Do I have to change health insurance if I move out of state? The answer is yes. As soon as you relocate, you must apply again at the Marketplace. Your plan will probably change, and you may end up paying more for less service. However, you may also end up with better coverage and get access to better medical services. For example, if you relocate to San Diego or LA, you will get access to some of the greatest hospitals in the country.
Relocating Within the Same State
One of the benefits of moving is that you can change your insurance plan. Relocation is a qualifying event, which means you will be able to get an enrollment window and change your plan. However, if you stay in the same state (you just moved from LA to another California city like San Jose), you can keep your plan if you are satisfied with it.
You Will Have to Update Your Address
One of the things people forget to do when moving to another state or city is to update their new address on their Health Government Profile. This is something you need to do, no matter if you are relocating down the street or to another state.
When to Change Health Insurance
This is a great question and a conundrum that everyone faces. Because there would be a coverage gap if you terminate the old plan before relocation, the optimal time to change your health insurance when moving to another state is afterward. Relocation is difficult, especially if you want to do it completely on your own without long-distance moving services because there is a chance that you might be hurt. You don’t want to be leaving the state without health insurance. In that situation, it is preferable to be safe than sorry.
Once you arrive at your location and have done your research thoroughly, you can apply for a new insurance plan in the next thirty to sixty days. You ought to do it for your health as well as for house seeking. Send a few emails, ask around, and gather information.
Will Your Health Insurance Provider Change When You Move
One thing is for sure – once you change the state and insurance plan, your provider will change as well. And even though there are providers that work across the nation, the plan will be adjusted to the market in that new state, and the network will be different as well. You will therefore need to re-enroll in the new plan after moving, even though you might already have a Cigna plan, and Cigna may also be offered in the individual market in the state where you’re going.
What Should You Do if You Don’t Have Employer-Based Insurance
If you are relocating without a job and you currently don’t have any employer-based insurance, you can sign up for short-term health insurance that will protect you while you move and find a new job. Also, there may be a waiting time of up to 90 days before coverage kicks in, even if you have benefits lined up from new employment.
What is SEP?
As we have already mentioned above, relocation is considered to be a qualifying event that can qualify you for the Special Enrollment Period. SEP is a time frame during which all the people that are eligible can enroll and change their health insurance. The Health Insurance Marketplace is open for customers to modify or renew their plans after they expire.
You will be required to submit supporting evidence when you visit HealthCare.gov to see if you qualify for the Special Enrollment Period. These records consist of:
- The evidence that you relocated within the last 60 days – Keep your energy bills, mortgage or rental documents for your new home, and moving-related invoices or financial statements,
- A letter or bill from your prior insurance provider – or a letter from your employer (if they’re paying for it) stating that they’ve changed or will alter your plan, would serve as proof that you previously had coverage. Keep in mind that these should not be sent via email but rather on business letterhead.
After you submit your documents, you will have 30 days to pick a new plan. So make sure you do this as soon as you arrive, even if you are last-minute moving. Put this on your moving-out list as a top priority because if you miss out on this window, you will be without insurance until the enrollment window opens again. If you are relocating in winter, this will not be such a bad thing since the enrollment window opens in winter. But if you hire movers from Seattle to California in the summertime, you will have months to wait without insurance.
Types of Healthcare Plans
No matter if you relocate to Portland, Oregon, or to Tacoma in Washington, you will be able to get an insurance policy under Obamacare (or the Affordable Care Act). Two types of insurance are covered by Obamacare – Medicare and Medicaid. However, if you prefer to get private insurance, you will be able to choose among many providers and pick the plan you like the most. Of course, if your employer has a deal with some company, you will probably get that insurance, but if you believe you can find a better plan, talk to your employer.
Medicare
Despite not covering all medical costs or the costs of the majority of long-term care requirements, Medicare is a program that assists with the cost of necessary healthcare. You can obtain each of the four elements of coverage — A, B, C, and D — in one of two methods. There are two types of Medicare:
- Original Medicare – contains both Part B (medical) and Part A (hospital insurance). You can add the Part D plan if you require prescription coverage. There are certain out-of-pocket expenses, including deductibles, but if you require additional coverage, you can purchase it.
- Medicare Advantage – It consists of components A, B, and D. It is also called an “all in one” alternative. These plans might have reduced out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, they could provide additional benefits like vision, hearing, dental care, and other services that the other program doesn’t offer.
Medicaid
A national healthcare program is called Medicaid. It covers medical expenses for the elderly, members of specified groups, and persons with disabilities who have low household incomes. Medicaid is a program that is funded in part by the federal government and is known by a different name in each state (MediCal, for instance, in California).
You might pay little or nothing out of pocket for medical care if you are eligible for all of this policy’s benefits.
Find Information on Supported Health Plans
Once you decide where to live and you have booked your movers in California and Seattle, you can start searching for moving out-of-state health insurance. Visit Marketplace to acquire the details about your upcoming HI program. If you are relocating alone, finding a program will be easy. However, if you are relocating with kids and family, you may need a program that will cover their medical expenses as well.
Organize your documents before you move because once you relocate, everything will be chaotic for the next couple of days. Even if you hire a cross country moving company for packing service, which will help by far with unpacking, there are things movers won’t move, and that includes important documents.
Contact your kid’s doctor and ask for medical records to be sent to you. If you have any copies of medical history for your kids and other family members, this is something you need to keep and bring with you as part of your relocation essentials. And just like when searching for a long-distance moving company, the greatest relocation tip is to start early and take bids from multiple HI providers. Take a look at this video for more tips on how to pick the right plan.
How to Transfer Health Insurance to Another State
Even if you have an individual health insurance plan that’s transferrable, you may still want to consider getting new health insurance when you move to a new state. This is because each state has different rules and regulations regarding what types of coverage must be offered by insurers. So it’s possible that the coverage offered by your current insurer won’t meet the requirements of your new state. In this case, it may be worth your while to shop around for a new insurer that offers plans that comply with the laws of your new state of residence.
To transfer health insurance you must sign up to the Healthcare.gov website and find the state you are relocating to. If the state is not listed on this website, that means it has its own Marketplace website you need to find. However, websites for each state are also listed on the Healthcare.gov website. Go to the corresponding website and start your application for a new plan.
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Book Cross-Country Movers to Do All the Hard Work for You
Moving to a new state can be an exciting time, but it’s important to make sure that all of your bases are covered – including your health insurance. As you can see, there are a lot of things you need to arrange when relocating to a new city. To make things easier for you and your family, book long-distance movers to do everything for you, so you can have time to make other arrangements, such as finding new healthcare providers.
