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Topic: Thinking early retirement and wondering about healthcare on the road (Read 141 times) previous topic - next topic
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Thinking early retirement and wondering about healthcare on the road
Hi folks,

We've been away from our LD for almost 8 years now, but soon will be reunited with Thistle Dew Too.   :)

I suspect we will begin some trips later this fall/winter.  We shall see.

As part of this next phase of our lives, I'm faced with a question that surely many of you have solved.

And that is -- if I decide to retire early, how best to provide for healthcare/health insurance before we're eligible for Medicare.

If we were staying put, we'd be happy with one of the local HMO options.  But being on-the-road will take us out of their network.

So can I ask for folks to weigh in with that they have found works best in terms of being able to see doctors if needed, renew prescriptions when on the road, etc. etc.

Pretty open ended question, I know.  But I'd like to tap your collective wisdom if you are willing.  We could have 6 years to bridge the gap until Medicare, so your help will be appreciated.

Steve & Carol Crisp
2000 Mid-Bath "Thistle Dew Too"
Steven & Carol Crisp -- 2000 26.5' Blue Mid-Bath named Thistle Dew Too
Our RV Motto:  "No place to be ... and all day to get there"
2024 Adventure: The Great Eclipse Escapade!  HI(Air),NV,AZ,NM,Mason,TX(Totality!) ...
 
Re: Thinking early retirement and wondering about healthcare on the road
Reply #1 –
Steve and Carol, welcome back!

Where is your home base?  Is there a Kaiser facility there? Can you use that address as your "official" domicile?

I've been able to keep my Kaiser coverage while fulltiming for 13 years now.  They have covered two emergency stops, one out of state for a gall bladder removal.  The rest of the time, I simply schedule annual checkups and lab work when I'm close to my home base and order prescriptions and communicate with doctors on line.

Sorry, I can't be of any help with other insurance or HMO's.  Good luck finding a solution.

Lorna
2003 RB
Re: Thinking early retirement and wondering about healthcare on the road
Reply #2 –
I highly recommend contacting Kyle Henson at RVer Insurance Exchange

There is some excellent information on his site.  Domicile (not just state but down to county) is going to be key on this and it's is not an easy question to answer.  It is becoming more and more difficult to find individual health insurance that will cover you outside your home area and some folks are even opting to switch domicile in order to find health insurance that will work for them.  None of us will know until October what next year is going to look like; this year was particularly challenging as several companies stopped offering PPOs in common fulltimer domicile states.

Escapees forum has some good discussion as well Escapees Discussion Forum , as does the Xscapers (basically pre-retirement age Escapees) Facebook page.

Michelle
Re: Thinking early retirement and wondering about healthcare on the road
Reply #3 –

Quote from: Lorna Dunham  - 

Where is your home base?  Is there a Kaiser facility there? Can you use that address as your "official" domicile?


Our home base is New Hampshire (at least for the foreseeable future).  We currently work in Hawaii and have been using Kaiser Permanente, and really like them a lot.  Alas, it does not appear they offer coverage in NH,  or anywhere in the Northeast.

Steven & Carol Crisp -- 2000 26.5' Blue Mid-Bath named Thistle Dew Too
Our RV Motto:  "No place to be ... and all day to get there"
2024 Adventure: The Great Eclipse Escapade!  HI(Air),NV,AZ,NM,Mason,TX(Totality!) ...
Re: Thinking early retirement and wondering about healthcare on the road
Reply #4 –
Quote from: Michelle C  - 
I highly recommend contacting Kyle Henson at RVer Insurance Exchange
...
Escapees forum has some good discussion as well Escapees Discussion Forum , as does the Xscapers (basically pre-retirement age Escapees) Facebook page.

Thanks for those links Michelle.  I will check them out  8)
Steven & Carol Crisp -- 2000 26.5' Blue Mid-Bath named Thistle Dew Too
Our RV Motto:  "No place to be ... and all day to get there"
2024 Adventure: The Great Eclipse Escapade!  HI(Air),NV,AZ,NM,Mason,TX(Totality!) ...