ACA Health Insurance and Texas Escapees Domicile Address

[WxSW]

Has anybody successfully obtained health insurance on the exchange (ObamaCare) while using the Escapees mail forwarding address for Texas (the Rainbow Dr address)?

I'm just checking to see if this has been successfully done because when you talk to representatives at most any company they don't understand this mail forwarding etc and usually default to "NO" because that is the easiest answer.

I'm not old enough for Medicare so I still buy on the exchange.

I really appreciate any and all replies. Thank you!!

[Clydro]

Have you asked the Escapees Mail Service about this? I would think that they may have come across this question in the course of their business. In addition, you may want to just use the Rainbow Drive address and don’t mention the mail forwarding aspect when dealing with the ACA providers.

[WxSW]

Thanks for your answer. I was looking for someone who has actually done it for some reassurance that it is a procedure that can actually work.

In the meantime, it can't hurt to hear what they say.

[oatmeal]

Are you aware that there are no plans on the exchange in Texas that provide coverage with a nationwide network?

With any ACA-compliant plan, you'll be covered for emergency care wherever you are, but that comes with two issues: (1) what is considered an emergency by the insurer, and (2) at what point does the emergency end and you become out-of-network for any additional care?

I glanced at the offerings on the Exchange using the Escapees zip code. The only choices are HMO and POS. HMO is obviously not good for people who don't actually live in the area. I'm not familiar with POS, but they do appear to provide some out-of-network coverage, but it's expensive, like you'll pay 50% coinsurance once you meet the out-of-network deductible, and there's no out-of-pocket limit on out-of-network care. Yikes.

Texas is a terrible choice for fulltimers who are under 65 and are buying individual health insurance. Years ago, lots of under-65 people using Escapees mail service in Livingston had Blue Cross PPO plans because they included access to a nationwide network, and nobody ever reported having an issue with the address. But then Blue Cross suddenly stopped offering those plans in Texas, and it sent everybody scrambling. That's why you're unlikely to find anyone with recent experience using an Escapees address for insurance on the exchange.

As for asking Escapees, beware. A few years ago they were offering health insurance, but it turned out to be indemnity plans, which are NOT health insurance. So if somebody tells you they can get you health insurance in Texas that will cover you as you travel around the country, dig REAL hard into it. And if you do find a true major medical health insurance plan issued in Texas that provides access to a nationwide network, PLEASE come back and report it.

[FledCali]

Originally Posted by oatmeal

Are you aware that there are no plans on the exchange in Texas that provide coverage with a nationwide network?

With any ACA-compliant plan, you'll be covered for emergency care wherever you are, but that comes with two issues: (1) what is considered an emergency by the insurer, and (2) at what point does the emergency end and you become out-of-network for any additional care?

I glanced at the offerings on the Exchange using the Escapees zip code. The only choices are HMO and POS. HMO is obviously not good for people who don't actually live in the area. I'm not familiar with POS, but they do appear to provide some out-of-network coverage, but it's expensive, like you'll pay 50% coinsurance once you meet the out-of-network deductible, and there's no out-of-pocket limit on out-of-network care. Yikes.

Texas is a terrible choice for fulltimers who are under 65 and are buying individual health insurance. Years ago, lots of under-65 people using Escapees mail service in Livingston had Blue Cross PPO plans because they included access to a nationwide network, and nobody ever reported having an issue with the address. But then Blue Cross suddenly stopped offering those plans in Texas, and it sent everybody scrambling. That's why you're unlikely to find anyone with recent experience using an Escapees address for insurance on the exchange.

As for asking Escapees, beware. A few years ago they were offering health insurance, but it turned out to be indemnity plans, which are NOT health insurance. So if somebody tells you they can get you health insurance in Texas that will cover you as you travel around the country, dig REAL hard into it. And if you do find a true major medical health insurance plan issued in Texas that provides access to a nationwide network, PLEASE come back and report it.

This was one of the biggest factors in choosing FL over TX when we went full time. We have an ACA plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield of FL and have no issues using our address with MyRVMail for it.

[WxSW]

Thank you for sharing your success getting insurance on the exchange with a mail forwarding address.

[oatmeal]

Originally Posted by WxSW

Thank you for sharing your success getting insurance on the exchange with a mail forwarding address.

You asked about using the Rainbow Drive address in Texas, not a Florida address.

There are tons of under-65 fulltimers who get health insurance on the Florida exchange using a Florida mail service address. That includes everyone who could no longer get a plan with a nationwide network in South Dakota and Texas--they jumped ship to Florida. Or, some of them jumped from South Dakota to Texas, and then had to jump again.