Since health insurance is sold mostly within state lines, when you move out state, you may be moving out of your group health plan's coverage area. So if you are an active employee, or on COBRA (unless it's a medical emergency), your healthcare may be considered out of network.
Out of network healtcare can produce some gynormous un-negotiated medical bills. But some health plans do have provisions for out-of-state people, like salespeople or dependents in school, so all may not be lost. It all depending on your plan rules.
If your plan rules don't cover out of state health care (except while traveling), and you have a medical problem, but you could always go back to the original state for care. But this is usually not a viable long term solution, unless you barely moved over the state line. Check with your plan administrator and request the summary plan description or SPD.
If you know you will be relocating, stock up on refills left while you are still covered in-network under the employee plan. Also if you have a good relationship with your doctor, they might be willing to call in a long term prescription without an office visit.
Even if you are covered now out of state, circumstances could change, especially during open enrollment. Check with your insurer to see if they will let you convert to their plan, which may have different benefits than the COBRA.
You also may be relocating and nothing's covered under COBRA. Determine how good your coverage will be by moving to where there's still in-network doctors. If the doctors in your new area do not accept your plan, not much else will probably be covered. Go to the insurer's website to get the listed of available physicians.
Summary: If you are moving out of state, find covered doctors, emergency coverage, and other out-of-area provisions before signing up for COBRA.
Craig Casey is an Writer, Coach, Blogger, Husband, and Former Health Insurance Agent helping people on the web since 1999 with their health insurance problems.
blog comments powered by Disqus
