Moving is all about change – and it’s not only your address and your immediate surroundings that change when you move to a new place.
Relocating involves all kinds of changes – change of jobs, change of routines, change of social circles, etc. It even requires a change of documents – and a change of insurance plans.
It’s only logical that when moving to a new home, you will need a new homeowners (or renters) insurance policy.
Surprisingly though, you may need to change your car insurance and your health insurance too – especially if you’re moving out of state.
In most cases, your health insurance coverage won’t cross state lines with you – you will need to enroll in a new plan in your new state. And you will need to do so as soon as possible in order to avoid gaps in your coverage.
After all, you don’t want to end up paying huge medical bills out of your pocket if you get sick or injured shortly after the move because you were uninsured in that period.
But how to change health insurance after moving?
How to ensure that you’re covered in your new place of residence?
Read on to find out:
Do you have to change health insurance when you move?
Whether you will need to change your health insurance or not depends on whether your move crosses state lines or not.
If you move within the same state, you will usually be able to keep your insurance plan – you will just need to update your health profile with your new address. (See also: How to Change Address When Moving)
If you move to a different state, however, you’ll likely need to get new health insurance.
Most health coverage plans are tied to a specific state, so your current plan won’t cover you in your new area. To be covered in your new state, you will need to enroll in a plan in that state.
The only scenarios when you won’t need to change your health insurance after moving out of state are when you’re staying with the same employer and when your current plan provides coverage outside of your home state:
If your employer transfers you to a company location in another state, you’ll stay on their sponsored plan, so you won’t need to get new health insurance;
If you have a PPO plan, a POS plan, or a multi-state health plan that offers out-of-state coverage, you won’t need to sign up for a new health insurance plan after the move – unless you want to (PPO plans are usually quite expensive, POS plans offer fewer choices of health providers, multi-state plans may not always provide adequate coverage, etc.).
Can you transfer health insurance to another state?
You cannot simply transfer your health plan to your new state.
When moving across the country, people may wonder how to transfer health insurance to another state.
To the dismay of many, however, health insurance cannot simply be transferred from one state to another.
The reason for this is that each state has its own distinct healthcare laws and regulations – and its own eligibility requirements for health insurance plans.
So, after the move, you may no longer be eligible for the type of health plan you had in your old state, or you may have more affordable health insurance options, etc.
Either way, you will need to make a new application and enroll in a plan in your new state.
Keep in mind that even Medicaid, which is a federal program, gives states the flexibility to set their own eligibility requirements – so, you won’t be able to just transfer your coverage and benefits, you will have to reapply for Medicaid in your new state.
The income threshold in some states is higher, so even if you’re currently on Medicaid in your state, you may not qualify in your new state.
In case the answer to the question Do I need to change health insurance when I move? is affirmative (as it will almost always be when moving out of state), you’ll probably start wondering when you’ll be able to get new coverage – and if there are any deadlines to be met.
So, how long to change health insurance after moving?
In most states, you will have 60 days to enroll in a new plan.
Yet, to avoid a break in coverage and avoid paying for coverage that doesn’t apply in your new state, it’s important to report your out-of-state move – and sign up for a new health insurance plan – as soon as possible.
When can you change your health insurance after moving to a new state?
You never know when you might need to see a doctor – so, the sooner you get coverage, the better.
Generally, people can only change health insurance plans during the open enrollment period. Under the Affordable Care Act, however, moving triggers a special enrollment period (SEP) in which you qualify for a change of policy.
Moving out of state is “a qualifying life event” – a life event that makes you eligible for a special enrollment period, so you can enroll in a marketplace health insurance plan outside of open enrollment.
Under the SEP provisions, you’ll have 60 days from the time of your move to enroll in a qualified health insurance plan through the federal marketplace or your new state’s exchange.
Keep in mind though that you will only be eligible for a special enrollment period if you had essential health coverage in your old state.
In order to take advantage of a SEP, you will need to submit some documents that prove your eligibility:
Proof that you moved to the state in the last 60 days – the date of your move, together with bills, financial statements, or other documents that prove your address (utility bills, lease agreement, mortgage documents, etc.);
Proof that you had previous coverage – a letter or a bill from your former insurance company.
Bonus tip: Be sure to select a new plan and apply for it by the 15th of the month, so you have coverage effective the first of the next month (if you apply after the 15th, your new plan will begin on the first day of the second month after your enrollment).
How to avoid a break in coverage
When changing health insurance after moving, there will likely be a gap in which you won’t be covered because your old health insurance plan won’t be effective in the new state and you won’t have new coverage yet.
Having a gap in health coverage, however, is very risky – if you get sick or hurt during that period, it will cost you a lot to get the medical care you need.
To be on the safe side, you need to find a way to bridge the gap between your previous insurance coverage and your new health plan. You have several options:
1. Extend your coverage through COBRA
With COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act), you can stay on your former employer’s health insurance plan for another 18 to 36 months – so, you’ll be covered in the new state until your new plan comes into effect.
Keep in mind, though, that you’ll have to pay the full cost of the premiums – and this will only work if the insurer has a network in your new city.
2. Get short-term health insurance
Take measures to avoid coverage gaps.
Temporary insurance plans are designed to cover gaps in health coverage – they become effective the day after application and can last from a few weeks up to a year.
These plans cover emergency care and major illnesses and injuries but don’t include essential health benefits and preventive care.
Besides, they’re not offered on the federal marketplace or on state exchanges – you will have to purchase a short-term health insurance plan through a private company.
3. Take advantage of retroactive Medicaid coverage
Retroactive Medicaid coverage allows up to three months of coverage immediately prior to the month of Medicaid application.
So, if you apply for Medicaid in your new state and your eligibility is established, Medicaid will pay any unpaid qualified medical expenses from the gap in your coverage during the previous three months.
Remember that even if you have a new job with health benefits lined up, there may be a waiting period before you become eligible for the employer-sponsored health plan.
In this case, it may still be best to get short-term health insurance so you have coverage during the waiting period.
NB: You may think that it is a good idea to change your health insurance before the move, so you have coverage as soon as you arrive in your new state. Doing so, however, even if possible, would be a big mistake.
In order to apply for a new health insurance plan, you need to first cancel your existing one. This means that you won’t have health coverage in the last weeks before your move and on Moving day itself (your new coverage won’t be effective in your old state and your old coverage will already be canceled).
Considering that the risk of getting injured is particularly high on moving day – especially in the event of a self-move – being without health insurance at that time could have disastrous consequences.
Good to know: The same rules apply to Medicaid coverage – you cannot receive Medicaid benefits simultaneously in two states, so you need to close your Medicaid case in your old state before applying for benefits in your new state.
How to change health insurance when moving to another state
Having ensured that you won’t be without coverage during the first months after the move, you can begin searching for an appropriate long-term health plan.
research doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers in your new area,
check plan networks to see which of them include the providers you like best, and
check the eligibility requirements for these plans.
May you not need to use health insurance after the move!
Remember that you will be able to easily compare coverage details and costs among various qualified health plans (health insurance policies that are established and enforced by the federal government and/or state governments) when you start a new Marketplace application in your new state.
Health insurance marketplaces (also called health insurance exchanges) are designed to help you with the process.
So, how to change health insurance when moving out of state?
Your first step is to report your move:
Visit HealthCare.gov and log into your personal account;
Click your name in the top right of the screen and select “My Profile”;
Click “Edit” next to the “Address” field and type in your new address.
Once you’ve updated your address, follow the steps below to start a new application:
Log into your HealthCare.gov account;
Select the year you want to get health coverage for and the state you just moved to. If you don’t see your new state, it means that the state is running its own Marketplace. In such a case, you’ll need to go to the state’s website to start a Marketplace application;
Click the “Apply or Renew” button to start a new application;
Complete the application and make any necessary updates (number of people in your household, changes to your income, etc.);
Keep in mind that when you’re ready, you’ll see health insurance plans that are available to you in your new location, together with the costs associated with each plan and any subsidies that you’re eligible for;
Choose the health insurance plan that best suits your needs and preferences and complete the enrollment in your new state.
Changing health insurance when moving states is quite a straightforward process, but you need to take care of it without delay – to ensure your peace of mind and avoid breaking the bank to get the medical care you need.
Have a safe and smooth relocation and be healthy and happy in your new home!
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