Can I Change My Health Insurance If I Move?

If you move across town, you may not be able to change your health insurance. If you move out of state, on the other hand, you may be required to change it. Your health insurance may not cross state lines with you.

Some plans may terminate when you move to a different state or may not provide coverage in the new state. If you purchased a health plan on the Marketplace, you will need to report the move as soon as possible, as stated on HealthCare.gov. This can make it possible to enroll in a new plan without a break in coverage. It can also help you avoid paying for coverage you would not be able to use in the new state where you are moving.

How Do You Get Health Coverage in a New State?

Employer-Based Health Insurance

In most cases when you have health coverage through your employer, you will need to find new health insurance if you move to a new state. This is true if you will be starting with a new employer, self-employed, working part-time, or remaining unemployed. If you are staying with the same employer when you move, you may be able to remain on the same health plan. Or your employer may find you a new, accommodating plan.

If you are leaving a job, you may have the more costly option of continuing your current coverage under COBRA. When your existing coverage ends, you can get your health insurance extended for 18 to 36 months, depending on the circumstances. This is only workable if the insurer has a network in the new state through which you can receive treatment. You pay the full cost of premiums with COBRA coverage.

The federal government paid COBRA health insurance premiums for individuals who lost their jobs as a result of the global pandemic and covered family members from April 1 through September 30, 2021.

If you have a new job with benefits lined up, you may be subject to a waiting period before you are eligible to enroll in an employer-sponsored health plan. In this case, or if you are looking for a new job, you might consider enrolling in short-term health insurance to provide coverage in the meantime.

Marketplace Health Insurance

Under normal circumstances, people can only enroll in a new Marketplace plan or change plans during the open enrollment period. However, moving to a new state makes you eligible for a special enrollment period, during which you can change plans or enroll in a new plan. For states that have their own websites, you will go there to apply. HealthCare.gov provides a list of those states. Otherwise, you will go to HealthCare.gov and follow their instructions to begin a new application for health coverage.

If you are planning a move to another state, it is important to continue your health insurance coverage without interruptions. Our friendly agent can help you decide on the best way to go about it.