I currently live in California and I am thinking about moving to Texas in a few months. If I get health insurance in California now, will I be able to use my insurance in Texas, or will I need to get new insurance when I move.

In most cases, your California health insurance policy will terminate when you become a resident of a new state, and you will need to find new coverage in Texas once you relocate. You may be able to find an individual health insurance policy that is “portable” to other states, but these are not offered by many insurance companies. It would be best to contact a California health insurance agent that is familiar with many different insurance companies and ask them if they sell any plans that you can move with you to Texas. Since health insurance is state regulated, the laws that govern health insurance in California are different than those in Texas. Therefore, a California health plan may not meet the requirements in the State of Texas, or the insurance company does not have a network of physicians in that state. Even companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield, that offer coverage in most state, will operate under different names and not offer the same health plan options in more than one state.

When applying for individual health insurance in a new state, you will need to complete a new application and your health status at that time will be evaluated. And, just because you qualify for health insurance in one state, does not guarantee that you will also be eligible in your new state. Therefore, if you can qualify for a health plan in California that will allow you to transfer your coverage to Texas, it might be worth strong consideration, even if the monthly premium is higher than what is offered by other insurance companies.

As soon as you make the decision to move to Texas, it would be advisable to start looking at health insurance in Texas and make sure that you meet the eligibility requirements before you make move out of California and lose your new California health insurance plan.

1 Comment

1. Hey guys help me out here! I am living in the state of New Jersey with my parents and they pay for my medical health and all of my insurance. I have never had to worry with it yet thankfully. I have been in college for the last 4 years now and just graduated. I got an offer for a position in a company that would be just right for me, BUT I have to move across the country all the way to Seattle! I am ready to go for it and just take the plunge, but what to do about health insurance? I will be dropped of my parents plan now and I can’t apply for medical health insurance in Seattle, as I am not yet a resident of Washington State? This really bugs me! What should I do?

   Comment by Lisa — June 19, 2009 @ 11:30 am

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