Starting April 1, On Point Insurance Agency (InsuranceOnPoint.com) will be in a new office located at 4535 Normal Blvd, Suite 232! Planning for this move has inspired this column. If you are planning to move into a different county, zip code or state, updating your health insurance is an important item on your moving to-do list.

If you have Medicare, moving can affect your plan availability as well as your rate. If you have a Medicare Supplement and move to a different county or state, you will likely see a rate adjustment even though your plan remains the same. Companies do this because the actuarial risk varies in different geographic areas.

For Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plan members, moving into a different county or state will create a 60-day Special Enrollment Period that will allow (or force) you to make a different plan choice due to plan availability. If you plan to continue care with your current providers, please check that those providers will be in network with the plans in your new zip code–never assume it will “just be alright.”

If you currently have a plan through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), you will also have a 60-day Special Enrollment period during which time you could potentially change your plan. Moving within the state of Nebraska may create an issue where your current plan’s network is no longer available, and you may need to establish relationships with new providers. If you are moving to a different state, it will be important to time the beginning of your new plan with your move so that you have more than just emergency care available to you in your new state. This entails starting an entirely new application on the Marketplace and then terminating your old application, so careful coordination of your termination and new effective dates are crucial.

If you have a group plan through your employer and remain with your current employer, it is possible that you will continue with your current plan. If you leave your current employer to start with a new company in a different county or state, you may have a COBRA offer to continue with your current plan for up to 18 months, or until your benefits at your new employer begin. It is also possible to bridge the benefit gap between employers by choosing an ACA plan or short-term plan that may be less expensive than COBRA.

The agents at On Point Insurance Agency are licensed in twelve states and are here to help with your health insurance choices!