Today in the chart

Many travel nurses need help with choosing the best health insurance. Finding healthcare coverage for travel nurses can sometimes be challenging since they spend so much time on their travels and have many alternatives. Many organizations provide travel nurse health insurance. However, the health insurance offered by travel nursing agencies is not always the most outstanding fit for their needs. In addition, this health coverage for travel nurses might be pricey and lack the range most nurses require.

What are the insurance options for traveling nurses

When it comes to travel nurses’ health insurance, one of the primary possibilities is to continue with the agency-provided plan. If you decide that you want something else, think about these health insurance options:

Downsides to agency health insurance

Travel nurse services provide health insurance, eliminating the need for nurses to source their own. However, sticking to the supplied plan is frequently a simple fix, and although this may appear enticing, it has drawbacks.

Cons:

Travel nurses seldom remain with the exact agency for an extended period of time. For example, you could be yearning for a position in Hawaii, but your present agency does not place travel nurses there. Switching agencies is common, although it is time-consuming. Changing agencies will almost always result in a change in the insurer. This may be problematic if you need to see a specific physician who isn’t in-network or requires a pricey medicine that isn’t covered by their policies.

Short-term health insurance options

Short-term health insurance is another option for insurance coverage as a travel nurse. These plans are far less expensive than employer-sponsored health insurance yet offer significantly fewer features. This coverage may be a suitable alternative if you are between employment, changing agencies, or needing help affording your health insurance costs. However, keep in mind that these plans may limit coverage based on prior conditions. And may refuse to pay for some health care treatments, particularly if they are connected to a pre-existing disease.

‍Nurses getting individual (private) insurance

Many travel nurses prefer to obtain personal or private health insurance. These plans are flexible, with no coverage gaps. If you take a few months off before taking another assignment, you won’t have to be concerned about losing your health insurance.

Cons:

You’ll be protected all year through with a private health insurance policy, whether you’re working or not. Whether you switch agencies with each job makes no difference, which can save you worry and any complications caused by coverage gaps. You’ll be able to register with and work with various travel nursing businesses with insurance, regardless of the assignment. However, as previously said, taking up your own individual plan is normally more expensive, and you may be limited in terms of what is covered. When a plan has more individuals on it, the insurance company may “share the risk,” delivering better benefits at a lower cost. Another thing to consider is that not all insurance providers will provide coverage in every state. That implies that if you want to take assignments in various areas, you may have difficulty finding a solid plan that will cover you wherever you go.

What is the best health insurance option for nurses

With the increased need for excellent nurses across the country due to the coronavirus epidemic, not having to worry about insurance coverage is a huge relief for any travel nurse. However, we understand how inconvenient it is to change insurance plans when your contract expires constantly, and you move from state to state, so everybody would concur that a nationwide PPO network with a large name brand. For instance, a United Healthcare PPO Network or a Cigna PPO Network is the best choice; it is ultimately an individual decision. However, becoming a member of any of these countrywide PPO networks eliminates the need for all care assistants to worry about whether or not they’ll be covered in whichever state or city they accept their next contract.

Here are some pointers to consider:

• Determine the cost of agency insurance and contrast it with your private health insurance choice.
• Ask your recruiter whether the employer would pay you more if you bring your insurance policy. You can use the additional money to pay for your insurance.
• Some companies offer to maintain your coverage even after you’ve completed a contract. This is fantastic for completing gaps, and any extra payments are paid from your subsequent salary, so find out if your agency offers this service.
• If you travel regularly, a private plan may be a better choice. The wisest choice to accomplish is to anticipate how much insurance will expense you each year and prepare accordingly.
• Specify how much you want your coverage to include, including travel (for example, optical and dental), and choose the plan with the greatest coverage.
• If you're suffering from any pre-existing problems, you should make sure that plan chosen has enough healthcare coverage for your condition.
• For nurses who do not work all year, you can compare the cost of private insurance to agency insurance. Assess if it is a better alternative for you.
• Inquire your agency if it’s possible to combine a personal insurance policy with the plan issued by the agency. This will save you money since you can choose a cheaper choice owing to the area covered by the agency plan.

Nurses, for example, will always be needed on the front lines. Each individual has unique insurance requirements and demands. Choosing the best plan needs serious thinking and deliberation. When traveling, a good health insurance plan is critical since you may require unexpected medical care. The greatest choice of travel nurses is to deliver exceptional coverage at a reasonable cost with no gaps.

If your organization has such a policy, you should continue it to save money. Nonetheless, if they are not, you may want to discover a personal insurance plan (and benefits!) that eventually gives outstanding coverage, and you may phone us at any time and speak to a qualified advisor in your state who can help you receive an estimate for individual health insurance.

Why and where to get a health insurance audit

Medical practices that engage with insurance companies must constantly be mindful of the accuracy of the claims they submit. If you receive an audit notification from one of your clients, it might be stressful if you are unsure whether or not your records are correct. Here’s what every medical practice should know about the advantages of performing a medical insurance audit. Insurance companies frequently perform audits to verify that practitioners file correct and properly documented claims.

Most audit requests will require a representative sample of internal paperwork, records, and other materials. This is to determine whether or not you are doing things correctly. Practices can conduct internal medical insurance audits. It is to proactively plan for and detect problems before an insurance company demands an audit.

Travel Nurse Advisors provides tax and accounting services to travel nurses. Our team can help your business gain confidence in your essential accounting reports and make better, more educated financial decisions. 

(Reposted with permission from Nurse Meg.)