Nov 28
Unlike past years at Crazy Horse, we’re doing Thanksgiving for Two this year.
Our 3rd guest
What’s a Thanksgiving without The Expanse?
Before eating, I took Flirt on our first walk on the Island . . .
Visited Stubby’s grave
Flirt off leash . . .
COMING SOON . . .
What’s in the Box?
Oct 31
If you’re a full-time RVer under 65 (Pre-Medicare) and buy your own health insurance, then you should consider purchasing a plan from the ACA (aka “Obamacare”). ACA health insurance plans accept pre-existing conditions, are available in every state, and if you qualify, part or all of your premium cost may be covered by a subsidy. Signup for 2020 ACA plans begins November 1 and ends December 15. See https://www.healthcare.gov/
To be eligible for a premium subsidy, you must earn between $12,490 and $49,960 for a single applicant. For a family of three, the limit is between $21,330 and $85,320. See https://www.healthcare.gov/lower-costs/qualifying-for-lower-costs/
However, not all health plans are “portable” — that is, a plan that can be used equally in every state. Non-portable plans typically require you to return to your home state for medical services or pay costly out-of-network fees. While you can use emergency services in any state, non-portable plans can require you to pick up most of the costs while out of state (or out of network).
So for a full-time RVer who travels around the country, a portable health insurance plan with a nationwide network of providers is usually a requirement. The Gold Standard of portable plans used to be a Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) health insurance plan. BCBS PPO plans typically came with a nationwide provider network so you could visit a doctor or hospital anywhere without paying an arm and a leg for treatment. However, though BCBS still remains a prime choice, there is no guarantee that a PPO plan has a nationwide network. Some PPOs are limited to a single state or a group of states.
These are the states that I believe have BCBS plans with nationwide coverage. For each state shown below, the lowest cost non-HSA plan is listed:
NOTE: I only checked 5 to 10 ZIP codes for each of the states below. Also, these prices reflect the premium cost for a 63-year-old Male who is not eligible for a subsidy. Finally, don’t take my word for it. Make sure you contact the plan provider for specific information, especially on the network. Finally, I did NOT check the health plans in every state . . . so there may be more out there.
I use Health Sherpa ( https://www.healthsherpa.com/ ) to do this.
First, you’ll need the ZIP code of where you reside. Use it to generate a list of health plans.
In this case, because Florida is a full-timer favorite, I’ve chosen the Sumter County, FL ZIP code (33597) and selected the lowest cost plan with a nationwide network — a BCBS PPO/EPO plan:
BlueSelect Plan
Next, select Plan details and Summary of Benefits (PDF):
BlueSelect 1452 Summary
Use the information circled above to make sure your plan has nationwide coverage as networks change all the time. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
For example, the following shows the difference between the 2019 and 2020 health networks of a Washington state ACA plan:
Plan changed from a National to a State Network
Oct 15
The morning after the 2019 IJSBA World Finals held at Crazy Horse Campgrounds . . .
The smell of beer was strong
Oct 10
From about 3:30 am when I woke up, the wind has been fierce in LHC. Last night it sounded like our metal garage roof was coming off. Gusts in the 50 mph range I hear.
The wind has slacked off, but we have another day of wind. Time to binge watch more Terrace House.
Since we live in the desert South West, wind means sand . . . everywhere.
Outside . . .
Inside . . .
It crawled under the door
Despite all the wind, some die-hard jet skiers were out on the lake . . .
