Clay L
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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DianneOK wrote:Firedude wrote:
I have a Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO and it's pretty much good anywhere I go as there are providers most everywhere. Mine anyway is not restricted to a region or state and have been told it would even cover me if I was traveling in Canada. I believe Dianne and Terry are on the same thing and she may have some better input.
We do have CaHP Blue Cross, part of the retirement package. We have used it all over. We had a CA address, then moved to SD five years ago. We just needed to change addresses. It covers us anywhere. We get online and find facilities/dr/lab where we are, then go from there. We have also used urgent care.
But the key is that it's part of a retirement package which many of us don't have.
Company pension related policies are not restricted as private policies are.
Clay (WA5NMR), Lee,(Wife) Codi, Brandi (Shelties) and Damncat (damn cat)
Full Timing in a 2004 Winnebago Sightseer 35N, Workhorse chassis, Honda Accord toad
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Clay L
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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Bumpyroad wrote:so could one actually move to south dakota, buy a cheap house or even rent and establish true residency there. get Blue Cross, Blue Shield, then switch to a mailbox address?
bumpy
Yeah but you would still need to spend six months or more in the state.
As a full timer I wouldn't be doing that. I don't stay six months anywhere. 
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Clay L wrote:Bumpyroad wrote:so could one actually move to south dakota, buy a cheap house or even rent and establish true residency there. get Blue Cross, Blue Shield, then switch to a mailbox address?
bumpy
Yeah but you would still need to spend six months or more in the state.
As a full timer I wouldn't be doing that. I don't stay six months anywhere.
I think I would pop in and out of state and don't think that the HMO would have any tracking devices that would know that you were out of state 6 months and one day. I am talking about actually buying/renting property, really living there, at least part time, then going full time/ or semi full time. I mean if it is a matter of having decent/reasonably priced health insurance for the rest of my life, I could make some concessions.
the only ones that they can really monitor are those that have On-Star equipped vehicles that they continuously track where they are. 
bumpy
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nifty250
Central Oregon
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We are not fulltiming yet, but our plan is to get an HSA with high deductible to cover anything catastrophic. We'll pay out of pocket for any small stuff. I've read that often you can get discounts by paying cash at the clinic or doctor's office.
We met one fulltiming couple who chose to not have any health insurance. They are aware of the risk and do their best to stay healthy. They do preventitive medicine and get their doctor appointments and dental work in Mexico. They also get prescriptions there.
2 dirt bike enthusiasts and 1 cool Weimaraner
2005 Teton Frontier Experience
1999 Volvo 610
Attack life! It's gonna kill you anyway. 
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was_butnotnow
Fulltime: Emery, SD
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As you can see Health Ins in this country is a nightmare...
I have retireement Ins from my company but the 3 year contract runs out this Sat at midnight. So we shall see what we get after that.
* This post was
edited 08/12/08 08:45am by an administrator/moderator *
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firedude
On the road
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All good points, but less get back to the OP's question and back on track please.
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Lynn Rupper
Full-timing USA 13 Years
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What do you do for Health Insurance now? Whatever you do shouldn't change just because you RV. Make sure you get a PPO type and not a HMO. HMO's don't work when you are out of your covered area.
Blue/Cross Blue Shield is the provider of our insurance and has worked out really well over the years. Now that I just recently went on Medicare A I'll find out how well that works with BC/BS. It is supposed to pay everything but full prescription coverage.
* This post was
edited 08/12/08 03:59pm by Lynn Rupper *
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Horseplay
NC
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Still have to be careful with the PPO! If you are "out of network" then your percent to pay and co-pays may differ big time!
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Horseplay wrote:Still have to be careful with the PPO! If you are "out of network" then your percent to pay and co-pays may differ big time!
which still sort of worries me with BC/BS since technically they are local plans. can you download a list of the affiliated providers in other areas/districts/states, and use them as within your system?
bumpy
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Lynn Rupper
Full-timing USA 13 Years
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I have used several different doctors in different States and haven't had any problems with BC/BS paying my policy negotiated payments, as long as I use BC/BS PPO providers. However, I have a STANDARD Federal Worker BC/BS PPO policy that will still pay non-PPO providers, but usually not in full. Additionally the Standard BC/BS plan pays the Medicare (A/B) deductible and any additional expenses (supplemented payment) after Medicare pays it's payment, if you use hospital/doctors that accept Medicare patients and payments.
Note: If you don't elect to use/pay the Medicare B plan, Standard BC/BS PPO pays it's negotiated rate to PPO providers/doctors. You will still need to pay the doctor co-pays/deductibles.
The BASIC Federal Workers BC/BS PPO plans require you to use PPO providers or they flat won't pay.
Bottom line: BC/BS is good if you have their BEST plan. Reading the policy fine print is required to see if they will pay all out of area doctor/hospital bills.
* This post was
edited 08/13/08 10:20am by Lynn Rupper *
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