In/Out of Network Doctors Visits as a Liveaboard

[SEndicott]

Hello all,

Long time lurker, first time poster. Please forgive the Noob question.

My wife and I are looking to become liveaboards along the east coast of the US for a few years. She has a full time, 100% remote job, and I am looking to be able to convert my job to remote as well, so we are seriously debating making the leap this Spring while we are young enough to enjoy it.

Anyhow, my question is around health insurance and medical appointments.

For sake of argument, say we decide to "reside" in Florida. Both of our employers will require us to have a land based address. So if we use a service, something like St. Brendan’s Isle (SBI) to establish our "residency", that would then become our In-Network location. So if we decide to move up to Boston, or Charleston, or somewhere else along the ICW, how does that work with In Network and Out of Network providers? Are we pretty much always considered Out of Network for anywhere but our immediate registered address, or is there a way around that?

A similar question regarding prescriptions. I assume my initial prescription would be filled in SBI residency, and any refills, as long as I go to a Walgreens or something with a nationwide network, I could get them refilled pretty much anywhere along the ICW.

Thanks for the patience with my and my Noob question. Learning a lot and looking forward to hopefully living aboard this Spring.

Steve E.

[shimari]

Welcome to the forum!

The answer to your question really depends on your personal health insurance plan. Some plans are national, and some local/regional. The correct answer depends on what plan you have.

You should probably speak with your HR rep, or call the general information number for your plan. They are the ones best suited to advise you.

Good luck!

[denverd0n]

Yeah, what shimari said. No one can answer your question without knowing the details of your particular health care plan.


Good luck.