Are health insurance options this good in other states?

I have great health insurance through Covered California. I pay about $100 per month, and my copays are as low as $8. I’m curious if other states offer similar coverage.

I’m also thinking about moving—would I lose all my prior authorizations and medication approvals if I switch plans?

Your premium is likely based on your income level, so you’d probably find similar pricing in another state with a comparable marketplace plan.

The $8 copays sound unusually low, but some high-tier (platinum) plans might offer similar rates. You can check marketplace plans for other states on healthcare.gov or through individual state exchanges.

Just be aware that if you switch plans, your deductible and out-of-pocket max will reset, and you’ll likely need to redo prior authorizations for medications and treatments.

@Darin
They also factor in the cost of living. If you move to a lower-cost state and keep the same income, it might change what you qualify for.

Texas is awful.

Zion said:
Texas is awful.

No kidding. I’m a stay-at-home parent with no insurance because adding me to my husband’s plan would cost $600 a month. We make too much to qualify for assistance but not enough to afford that. I just use telemedicine for my thyroid meds and hope for the best.

California has some of the best options in the country. You won’t find the same level of coverage and affordability in most other states.

Shiloh said:
California has some of the best options in the country. You won’t find the same level of coverage and affordability in most other states.

The downside is it can take forever to get an appointment. My annual checkup was only 15 minutes. Some smaller states have better availability, but the coverage here is great.

@Zaid
Long wait times for appointments happen everywhere, not just California.

Shiloh said:
@Zaid
Long wait times for appointments happen everywhere, not just California.

I found it better in smaller states, but I get what you’re saying. Maybe it’s just a healthcare issue overall.

@Zaid
I live in Idaho, and the wait time for a primary care provider is over a year. Specialists take even longer. Urgent care is packed with people who can’t get appointments, so you end up waiting hours. Fewer doctors per capita means it’s not always better in smaller states.

Yes, switching insurance means you lose prior authorizations and medication approvals. Each carrier has different policies, so you’d have to go through the process again.

Definitely not all states. I live in Alabama, and our government refused to expand Medicaid, making it much harder to get affordable insurance. I’m convinced they just don’t care.

Lee said:
Definitely not all states. I live in Alabama, and our government refused to expand Medicaid, making it much harder to get affordable insurance. I’m convinced they just don’t care.

I don’t get why states would refuse Medicaid expansion when it costs them nothing.

@NialShawrie
They did it just so they could say Obamacare is bad.

Lee said:
Definitely not all states. I live in Alabama, and our government refused to expand Medicaid, making it much harder to get affordable insurance. I’m convinced they just don’t care.

If it’s a red state, it likely didn’t expand Medicaid. There are a few exceptions, but most states that refused it want to keep costs high for low-income people.

It depends on income. In Connecticut, Medicaid covers a lot, but not all doctors accept it. I had to switch dentists because mine wouldn’t take it.

Here’s a map of which states have expanded Medicaid. If you’re thinking of moving, avoid the ones that haven’t.

Health coverage varies by state. Some states have better programs, but others don’t. If you’re considering a move, talk to a licensed insurance broker in your target state.

Your current plan is a Silver-level cost-sharing plan, which is available in all states. The details may differ, but you can find similar coverage elsewhere.

New York and Minnesota have even better programs with state-funded basic health plans, and Oregon is adding one this year.

Tennessee wouldn’t be a good choice—our state didn’t expand Medicaid, and insurance options are limited.