DD living in another state. . . insurance?

[Ipsey]

My second child has an exciting opportunity to live with uncle and aunt in another state for the school year.

 

Here's what I need to know--insurance.

 

How do we cover her when she's living away from us? Do they take her on their insurance? I have no idea how to do this.  Any suggestions?

 

Thanks!

[Pippen]

How old is she? 

Is she a full time student?

Are you only thinking health insurance, or are auto and/or other types also needed?

[Amy in NH]

Through the new health care exchange you may be able to purchase a policy for her in the state where she will be living.

[regentrude]

Would it not depend on the terms of your insurance whether your child has to reside with you full time in order to be covered, or whether your child is covered irrespective of location?

Many college students are on their parents' insurance, even if they go to college out of state. You should check with your insurance company.

I consider it highly unlikely that aunt&uncle can simply put their niece on their insurance - unless you gave up custody and they became custodial parents.

[Ipsey]

Would it not depend on the terms of your insurance whether your child has to reside with you full time in order to be covered, or whether your child is covered irrespective of location?

Many college students are on their parents' insurance, even if they go to college out of state. You should check with your insurance company.

I consider it highly unlikely that aunt&uncle can simply put their niece on their insurance - unless you gave up custody and they became custodial parents.

Ohh, actually, DD is 14. I should have made that clearer.

 

I'd expect a college-aged kid to be living on their own. I hadn't thought of that aspect. :D

[trulycrabby]

Your current insurance carrier should cover her if she is still considered your dependent and you will be paying for her care, but you need to contact your health insurer to make sure.

[regentrude]

Ohh, actually, DD is 14. I should have made that clearer.

 

I'd expect a college-aged kid to be living on their own. I hadn't thought of that aspect. :D

 

That's not my issue - if a college student who is an adult would be covered by his parents' insurance, why wouldn't a 14 y/o who is still your dependent and you're her legal guardian?

 

[Pawz4me]

Your insurance should cover her, just as it would if she were living with you.  The issue, I think, is that any medical care she needs will likely be out of network.  Which means your co-pays and deductibles will likely be higher.

[Amy in NH]

Our insurance only covers ER visits out of state, so I wouldn't assume that her parents insurance will cover her even with out-of-network coverage.

[QueenCat]

I would think she'd still be covered. When dh moved ahead of us, his new insurance was based in his new state. We were still covered, in-network, with physicians in our old state, where the boys and I still were located. I'd think with any major insurance company, that has doctors in-network all over the country, you wouldn't have a problem. The insurance was Blue Cross of X state, but we could see doctors that were in-network for Blue Cross of Y state. No problems.

[Caroline]

We are covered by BCBS of Massachusetts, but live in GA. In the past we were covered by BCBS of Rhode Island while living in GA. Any BCBS of Georgia in network doctor, hospital, etc. has been considered in network for us. We have also taken the kids to pediatrician's in Florida and Illinois with no problems. I am betting it depends on the insurance.

[G5052]

Yes, call your insurance company.  Ours covers any family member, anywhere with some rules that apply if there is no network doctor within a certain number of miles.

 

There really isn't one way that companies handle this.

[Ipsey]

Great, thanks everyone. I'll check and see how the insurance will cover her in the new state. Hopefully pretty well! :D

[Tiramisu]

We have a BCBS plan and we only have coverage locally, except for ER visits. We do have out-of-network benefits but we'd have to meet a huge deductible for them to ever kick in. We had to buy a supplemental plan through the college dd attended. As expensive as it was, it was still less than the deductible on our regular plan. Dd attends a college with no student health center. :(

[Tiramisu]

Really?  I thought everyone took BCBS.

We actually have BCBS of Texas, live in NY, and it seems everyone takes them. 

 

You may have what I've heard referred to as a Blue Card plan. In our state, BCBS has many different plans. Ours is almost like an HMO in that it requires referrals for in-network specialists, etc. The only difference is that we technically have out-of-network benefits, even if they don't really work in reality. Of course, if I had $5,000 to spare for dd to reach the level that the out out-of-network benefits would kick in, we'd have no problem.

 

ETA: I think our state must have funky health insurance regulations from things I've heard about how other states do things. At least, hsing is easy here.