Choosing a health plan can be complicated. Luckily I have made it simple for my fellow nomads.
Overview of Health Plan Options for Nomads
Whether you are a full-time or part-time RVer, live on your boat, work as a traveling nurse, are an OTR trucker, remote worker, or just like to roam around the backcountry with your rucksack–I have a healthcare plan for you! The world is changing and you need a health insurance plan that gives you the freedom and flexibility to live life your way. Here at Nomad Insurance I am committed to always bringing you the most current and relevant options for healthcare coverage.
Plans I Offer Nomads
The plans I offer are guaranteed to be the best balance of access, cost and coverage available. We offer many options ranging from Affordable Care Act (ACA), Fixed Benefit indemnity plans, Short Term Medical and TriTerm Medical plans to Medical Cost Sharing and plans exclusively available to nomads who are Self-Employed business owners either working remotely around the world or traveling via RV in the US. Scroll down this page to get a good overview of options. As always, feel free to reach out to me if you want to speak to someone who can walk you through comparing, choosing, and enrolling in a plan.
Why Nomad Insurance is the most qualified health insurance agency for nomads.
Nomad Insurance was created by nomads for nomads. I have been a full-time RVer since 2011 as well as an insurance broker since 2001. I’ve also been an avid long-trail backpacker and outdoor enthusiast my entire life. When you work with me you can rest assured that you will be working with someone who understands the lifestyle as well as the healthcare insurance industry. I am focused on education and service, not sales. My aim is to give you the tools to research your options while providing guidance where requested.
We're Nomads too
Health Plans Overview
Health Insurance Plans: How to select the best plan
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with options when researching healthcare plans–especially if you don’t speak the lingo every day like I do. Just know that I am here to help if you need it. I don’t like to tell you which plan to choose but instead want to educate you on the options and let you decide which plan is best based on your own criteria. For some people it may be more important to choose a low monthly premium while for others it may be crucial to pick a plan with the richest benefits. My advice is to consider these things when comparing and contrasting plans: monthly cost, benefits and features, network flexibility, and risk exposure. Only you know how to rank these items in order of importance. Luckily I make it easier for you to compare plans based on these criteria below!
A Note on Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and the ACA Penalty
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has protections in place for people with pre-existing medical conditions. All of my non-ACA plan alternatives are specifically chosen for nationwide provider access, which most ACA plans do not offer. However, all of my non-ACA plans require you to be relatively healthy and generally do not cover pre-existing medical conditions (with the exception of our Medical Cost Sharing plans). So, if you have pre-existing medical conditions I will likely recommend seeing if you can find an ACA plan that suits your needs first. Click here to get ACA quotes and to see if you qualify for a subsidy now.
As for the ACA mandate penalty that issues fines for not having ACA-compliant health coverage: As of January 1, 2019 that penalty was repealed and is no longer assessed!
Choose what's MOST important to you below or
OR
Fixed Benefit Health Plans
These are lower cost health insurance plans that provide coverage for hospitals, doctors, surgeries, tests, wellness, and much more.
– Low Cost
– Guaranteed Renewable
– No Deductibles
– Nationwide Coverage
Tri-Term Health Plans
Higher benefit plans that provide up to 3 years of comprehensive major medical coverage nationwide for preventive, hospitals, doctors, surgeries and much more.
– Higher Benefits
– Flexible Deductibles
– Major Medical
– Nationwide Coverage
Medical Cost Sharing
Low-cost non-insurance option that connects you with a community of like-minded individuals who all agree to share in large medical expenses.
– Very Low Cost
– Nationwide Coverage
– No Medical Qualifying
– No Insurance Company
Self-Employed Health Plans
Specifically for small business owners who want individual or family coverage that is comprehensive and ACA-compliant nationwide health insurance.
– Major Medical
– ACA Compliant
– Competitive Premiums
– Nationwide Coverage
Global Health Plans
Plans designed for those traveling abroad (or coming to the US) for short or long trips or for long-term remote workers needing global health insurance coverage.
– Low Cost
– Global Protection
– Easy To Qualify
– Flexible Plan Design
Short Term Medical Health Plans
Comprehensive medical insurance designed for 6-12 months of coverage. Benefits are comprehensive and coverage is nationwide.
– Low Cost
– Naitonwide Coverage
– Comprehensive Benefits
– Flexible Deductibles
Complicated? I know.
That's why I'm here - you can always give me a call, or use my form to receive a custom insurance quote crafted for you, for free by a nomad and insurance expert.
Continue exploring who each plan is best for below...
Plan Type
For who?
Fixed Benefit Plans
Healthy families or individuals wanting nationwide low-cost coverage without having to meet a large deductible.
- Families/Individuals
- Low Cost
- Healthy
- Age 18-65
- Nationwide
Tri-Term Health Plans
Healthy families or individuals wanting more comprehensive nationwide coverage for up to 3 years. These plans have flexible deductible options
- Families/Individuals
- Comprehensive
- Healthy
- Age 18-65
- Nationwide
Medical Cost Sharing Plans
This option is best for those who are healthy and want the lowest cost option while maintaining maximum freedom without dealing with insurance companies
- Families/Individuals
- Lowest cost
- Healthy
- Age 21-65
- Nationwide
Short Term Medical Plans
Best for nomads who want a a low-cost comprehensive plan for up to 12 months. Best for healthy individuals bridging the gap between plans.
- Individuals
- Healthy
- Low Cost
- Age 21-65
- Nationwide
Self-Employed Health Plans
The best option if you are a self-employed business owner or remote worker want the most comprehensive ACA-compliant coverage for you or your healthy family.
- Families/Individuals
- Healthy
- Most Comprehensive
- Age 45-65
- Nationwide
Global Health Plans
Specifically designed for remote workers, trip-takers, backpackers, and digital nomads who mostly need coverage outside of their home country.
- Individuals
- Healthy
- Low Cost
- Age 20+
- International
Compare Pros & Cons
Fixed Benefit Plans
Pros
Fixed Benefits are often the lowest cost option for health insurance.
Our Fixed Benefit plans give you nationwide coverage via the large United Healthcare network in all 50 states.
Fixed Benefit plans give you first-dollar coverage so you do not have to meet a large deductible before getting benefits.
The United Healthcare HPG and Health Protector Guard plans have the highest payment schedule of any Fixed Benefit plans in the country.
With our Fixed Benefit plans you are getting coverage for doctors, hospitals, surgeries, testing, preventive wellness, and much more.
We offer the only Fixed Benefit plans that do not have a annual or lifetime benefit maximum.
Enrollment is open all year long to qualified applicants.
Cons
As with all Fixed Benefit plans you do have to qualify medically and can be turned down for coverage if you have a porr medical history.
Fixed Benefit plans do not generally cover pre-existing medical conditions.
Fixed Benefit plans do not limit how much you would have to pay in the case of a large medical claim.
Tri-Term Plans
Pros
Tri-Term Medical Plans offer very comprehensive benefits for doctors, hospitals, surgeries, tests, and more
United Healthcare’s nationwide network has almost 1 MILLION medical providers and 5000 hospitals you can access.
Perfect for those who are retiring at age 62 and need comprehensive coverage until Medicare kicks in at age 65.
Tri-Term plans have deductible options ranging from as low as $2500 and as high as $15000 so you can control your monthly cost.
Enrollment is open all year long to qualified applicants.
Cons
You have to answer a health questionnaire and can be turned down for coverage.
After 3 Years you have to reapply for coverage.
Because of the comprehensive benefits these plans are higher cost than the Fixed Benefit plans.
Medical Cost Sharing Plans
Pros
Medical Cost Sharing plans are the lowest cost option for many people.
Choose your Initial Unsharable Amount IUA (like a deductible) to suit your budget
MCS plans give you maximum freedom since there are no networks you are required to use.
MCS plans are a great way to mitigate large medical bills risk.
MCS plans are NOT insurance so you do not have to deal with insurance company ‘red tape’.
All applicants are accepted regardless of pre-existing medical conditions.
Enrollment is open all year long to qualified applicants.
Cons
Although also a ‘pro’ this also means you are not protected by state and federalinsurance regulations.
Although you can’t be turned down for pre-existing medical conditions they can require a 12-24 month wait period before covering those conditions.
Since it is not insurance it is not a contract to pay your claims. This requires some trust on your part.
Self-Employed Health Plans
Pros
Other than an ACA plan this is the most comprehensive plan option available.
Though not as important since the penalty is now gone, these plans meet the requirements for Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) and Essential Health Benefits (EHB) under the ACA.
You will not have any difficulty finding participating providers in all 50 states for these plans!
All ages pay the same rate so this is an attractive option for those over age 50.
Part of the Minimum Essential Coverage means that you are fully covered for all required wellness benefits.
Enrollment is open to qualified applicants all year long.
Cons
You have to be relatively healthy to qualify for these plans.
You have to be self-employed and working at your business for at least 30 hrs per week in order to apply for these plans.
Short Term Medical Plans
Pros
Since the insurance company is taking a shorter term risk rates are usually much lower for Short Term Medical.
Coverage for doctors, hospitals, tests, surgeries, and much more.
You will have nationwide coverage with providers available in all 50 states.
Online applications are reviewed quickly and you can usually get same or next day coverage.
Enrollment is open all year long to qualified applicants.
Cons
Short Term Medical plans do not cover pre-existing medical conditions at all.
Because the benefits are excellent and this population tends to use it more these plans are not ideal for over age 60.
Every state has their own short term medical regulations and some states either don’t allow short term plans or have very short terms, like 90 days.
Some states only allow one term for short term medical and do not allow you to re-apply.
Global Health Plans
Pros
Since these plans are generally for a specific purpose they can be very cost.
These are the only plans that will cover you abroad or cover people from abroad traveling to the United States
These plans do allow you to return home for short periods of time and continue to cover you in your home country.
Enrollment is open all year long to qualified applicants.
Cons
These plans are not designed to cover Americans who are traveling mostly within the United States.
Fixed Benefit Plans
Pros
Fixed Benefits are often the lowest cost option for health insurance.
Our Fixed Benefit plans give you nationwide coverage via the large United Healthcare network in all 50 states.
Fixed Benefit plans give you first-dollar coverage so you do not have to meet a large deductible before getting benefits.
The United Healthcare HPG and Health Protector Guard plans have the highest payment schedule of any Fixed Benefit plans in the country.
With our Fixed Benefit plans you are getting coverage for doctors, hospitals, surgeries, testing, preventive wellness, and much more.
We offer the only Fixed Benefit plans that do not have a annual or lifetime benefit maximum.
Enrollment is open all year long to qualified applicants.
Cons
As with all Fixed Benefit plans you do have to qualify medically and can be turned down for coverage if you have a porr medical history.
Fixed Benefit plans do not generally cover pre-existing medical conditions.
Fixed Benefit plans do not limit how much you would have to pay in the case of a large medical claim.
Tri-Term Plans
Pros
Tri-Term Medical Plans offer very comprehensive benefits for doctors, hospitals, surgeries, tests, and more
United Healthcare’s nationwide network has almost 1 MILLION medical providers and 5000 hospitals you can access.
Perfect for those who are retiring at age 62 and need comprehensive coverage until Medicare kicks in at age 65.
Tri-Term plans have deductible options ranging from as low as $2500 and as high as $15000 so you can control your monthly cost.
Enrollment is open all year long to qualified applicants.
Cons
You have to answer a health questionnaire and can be turned down for coverage.
After 3 Years you have to reapply for coverage.
Because of the comprehensive benefits these plans are higher cost than the Fixed Benefit plans.
Medical Cost Sharing Plans
Pros
Medical Cost Sharing plans are the lowest cost option for many people.
Choose your Initial Unsharable Amount IUA (like a deductible) to suit your budget
MCS plans give you maximum freedom since there are no networks you are required to use.
MCS plans are a great way to mitigate large medical bills risk.
MCS plans are NOT insurance so you do not have to deal with insurance company ‘red tape’.
All applicants are accepted regardless of pre-existing medical conditions.
Enrollment is open all year long to qualified applicants.
Cons
Although also a ‘pro’ this also means you are not protected by state and federalinsurance regulations.
Although you can’t be turned down for pre-existing medical conditions they can require a 12-24 month wait period before covering those conditions.
Since it is not insurance it is not a contract to pay your claims. This requires some trust on your part.
Self-Employed Health Plans
Pros
Other than an ACA plan this is the most comprehensive plan option available.
Though not as important since the penalty is now gone, these plans meet the requirements for Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) and Essential Health Benefits (EHB) under the ACA.
You will not have any difficulty finding participating providers in all 50 states for these plans!
All ages pay the same rate so this is an attractive option for those over age 50.
Part of the Minimum Essential Coverage means that you are fully covered for all required wellness benefits.
Enrollment is open to qualified applicants all year long.
Cons
You have to be relatively healthy to qualify for these plans.
You have to be self-employed and working at your business for at least 30 hrs per week in order to apply for these plans.
Short Term Medical Plans
Pros
Since the insurance company is taking a shorter term risk rates are usually much lower for Short Term Medical.
Coverage for doctors, hospitals, tests, surgeries, and much more.
You will have nationwide coverage with providers available in all 50 states.
Online applications are reviewed quickly and you can usually get same or next day coverage.
Enrollment is open all year long to qualified applicants.
Cons
Short Term Medical plans do not cover pre-existing medical conditions at all.
Because the benefits are excellent and this population tends to use it more these plans are not ideal for over age 60.
Every state has their own short term medical regulations and some states either don’t allow short term plans or have very short terms, like 90 days.
Some states only allow one term for short term medical and do not allow you to re-apply.
Global Health Plans
Pros
Since these plans are generally for a specific purpose they can be very cost.
These are the only plans that will cover you abroad or cover people from abroad traveling to the United States
These plans do allow you to return home for short periods of time and continue to cover you in your home country.
Enrollment is open all year long to qualified applicants.
Cons
These plans are not designed to cover Americans who are traveling mostly within the United States.