Whether you’re traveling for a few weeks or moving permanently out of state, you may wonder how health coverage works when you’re not at home. Health insurance rules and coverage details can vary by plan and location, so it’s always best to check with your specific health plan. However, we’ll cover how health coverage generally works in the most common situations you may need out-of-area coverage.

Does health insurance cover out of state travels?

One typical scenario where you may need temporary coverage is when you’re visiting another state. Before going on your trip, it’s a good idea to contact your health plan and ask:

• How far its service area covers. not every plan is available in every state, so check with your insurance company if its coverage extends to the place you’re visiting. You may still be covered even if it doesn’t contract with providers in that state, but your costs may be different.
• What services are covered: if you’re visiting a state outside of your plan’s network, ask what types of services are covered. Routine care such as wellness visits, preventive care, and vaccinations may not be covered if you’re traveling outside of your plan’s network. Generally, many plans will cover emergency and urgent care services even if you’re out of state. So, if you’re traveling and need an emergency medical treatment, you’ll typically be covered, even if you’re out of your plan’s home network.
• Whether you need prior approval for coverage. some plans cover certain services, such as surgery, or post-emergency treatment, but only with prior approval. This means you’ll need to contact the plan first and get approval before receiving the service or you may not be covered. For example, if you receive emergency heart surgery while out of state, your plan may cover the surgery as an emergency medical procedure. However, if you need post-surgery treatment in an outpatient clinic, your plan may need to approve the recovery treatment as it’s no longer “emergency” care.

As always, check with your specific plan for details on coverage and costs if you’re traveling or moving out of state. You can find this information by calling the member hotline on the back of your membership card or checking your plan’s Evidence of Coverage documents.

In another situation, some folks may have multiple permanent residences in different states. For example, you might have a home in New York, but live in Florida during the colder months. Or, you may travel internationally for several months of the year. In this situation, it might be worth looking into travel or short-term insurance to boost your coverage when you’re out of your plan’s network for an extended period. As another option, you might switch plans and find a health plan that covers providers in both states you live in.

eHealth offers a wide variety of health plans, including short-term coverage. Or, if you’d like to find a health plan with a wider provider network, you can shop individual and family plans.

Do I have to change my health insurance if I move out of state?

In another common scenario, you may wonder how your health coverage works if you move permanently out of state. Unlike short-term travel, when moving states, health insurance may need to be updated. If you have employer-based health coverage, find out if your plan is covered in your new state of residence. If you’re moving to a state that’s outside of your plan’s service area, you may need to find a new health plan.

Changing health insurance when moving states isn’t difficult. Under the Affordable Care Act, moving to a new residence (whether that’s a different state, zip code, or county) qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in new coverage. This means you can enroll in a new Marketplace plan outside of the Open Enrollment Period. You’ll need to show you had qualifying health coverage for one or more days in the 60 day time frame before you moved.

If you’re moving and need new health coverage, it’s a great time to shop and compare plan options in your new home area. eHealth makes it easy to do so with its plan finder tool and knowledgeable licensed insurance agents. You can get started right now if you like by browsing plan options here.

Can I stay on my parents’ health insurance if I move out of state?

It depends. Health plans cover children as dependents on their parents’ health plans until they’re 26 years old. However, if you’re moving out of state (for example, to attend college), you’ll need to check if the health plan offers coverage in that state. If your plan doesn’t have network providers in your new state, you could end up paying a lot more to use non-network providers. Even if your parents’ health plan covers emergency or urgent care services, you may want to look into enrolling in a different plan with more comprehensive routine coverage while you’re in school. That way, you’ll be able to get routine care like wellness visits or vaccinations while you’re away from home.

Moving to another state for college is another life event that makes you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in new coverage. You may need to wait until you’ve moved before you can enroll; check with your state’s insurance department for more information or contact eHealth and one of our licensed insurance agents can help you find out if you’re eligible to sign up for coverage and talk you through your options.

Changing health insurance when moving states

If you’re moving permanently out of state or simply interested in exploring new options, you’re in the right place. eHealth makes changing health insurance when moving states simple with its easy-to-use plan finder tool. Browse plan options in your new zip code side by side and compare benefits and costs to find the plan that works best for your situation. If you need help, our team of knowledgeable licensed insurance agents would be happy to assist. You can start shopping for individual and family plans now, or contact eHealth to speak with a trusted licensed insurance agent.