If you have individual health insurance coverage and are moving from one state to another, it is important to know that individual policies are state based. You must enroll in a new plan in the state that you permanently reside. Typically, insurers require that you reside in a state a minimum of six months of the year to be considered a resident of that particular state.
Because individual plans are state based, you will qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (60 days) in the new state of residency. It is more than likely that you will need to provide certain documentation proving that you have moved, so planning ahead is best. Find a broker in the new state or visit healthcare.gov to enroll in a new individual plan. As a reminder, there is no additional costs involved when using a broker. They will know the local market, the best plans for your particular needs, and most importantly, local insurance laws.
As mentioned, individual plans are state based. The moment you move out of state you become ineligible for coverage in your old state. This is why it is important to switch to a new local plan once you have your new home address. The new plan will include in-network providers, helping you avoid out of network charges if your old plan were to cover a claim.
The number to remember during the moving process is 60 days. 60 days is your Special Enrollment Period. It is the number of days you have once you move to enroll in a new plan. The new health insurance company will also want proof that you were insured with the old insurer within the past 60 days. The new insurer may require utility bills, car registration, mortgage statement, etc., as proof of the move. Your old insurer will send you a termination notice which the new insurance company will likely want a copy of when applying, or soon thereafter.