Travel Nursing and Health Insurance: Navigating Coverage on the Go

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As a travel nurse, you’re always on the move, adapting to new environments and overcoming challenges. But does your health insurance travel with you? Staying covered while hopping from one assignment to another is vital, considering the occupational hazards and health risks associated with nursing jobs. Worrying about unreliable coverage could make you rethink travel nursing, but the good news is that several excellent options for health insurance and other benefits exist. Let’s delve into the complexities of managing your travel nurse health insurance with insights and practical tips to ensure you’re never without protection wherever your career takes you.

Do Travel Nurse Agencies Provide Health Insurance?

Most travel staffing agencies offer some form of benefits. Some agencies offer benefits that start on day 1, and some require a 30-day waiting or premium pay period. Recruiters are the best source for information about available benefits, costs and when they take effect. If you aren’t using the agency’s benefits, you should receive a larger travel salary package than a nurse who opts to take the agency insurance. 

Travel nurses may find that some agencies only offer health insurance, not vision or dental insurance. In these situations, some travelers supplement their health plans with Delta Dental, VSP Vision or similar insurance providers.

Challenges of Securing Health Insurance for Travel Nurses

The problem with receiving agency-provided benefits is that you may not be covered between assignments, especially if you change agencies between jobs. Some travel nursing agencies will extend your coverage between jobs if you’ve already signed a contract with them for your next assignment. 

However, many agencies won’t do this if the gap in employment is greater than 14-30 days. While travel nurses can use the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) to extend their health insurance from a prior employer, this may be an expensive long-term option. 

Another challenge for travel nurses is dealing with state regulations and the temporary nature of their assignments. Most states have different coverage requirements, which can complicate finding consistent insurance that meets all regulations. An insurance plan’s preferred providers may not be available in new states, which means higher out-of-pocket costs for out-of-network care. Some plans are state-specific and non-transferable, meaning frequent and potentially costly switches. 

The transient nature of travel nursing often means frequent health insurance changes, which can be time-consuming and result in gaps in coverage. While short-term health insurance can fill these gaps, it usually offers limited benefits and excludes pre-existing conditions. 

Addressing these and other challenges requires careful planning and understanding of available options. Planning may include working with specialized insurance brokers and seeking agencies with comprehensive health benefits.

Marketplace Insurance for Travel Nurses

The Health Insurance Marketplace can provide an alternative and should be the first place you check for insurance as a traveler. Although enrolling outside open enrollment requires a qualifying life event, changes in residence qualify, even if this change is only temporary.

As with most insurance, age, pre-existing conditions and the number of people on the plan determine each nurse’s cost and fit for Marketplace plans. If a nurse has frequent or complicated healthcare needs, a cheaper, high-deductible plan may not work. In these circumstances, the nurse should investigate agency coverage and options for time between assignments.

The plan’s cost also depends on your primary state of residence and annual income. Be aware that if you under-report your income to get “cheaper” insurance, you will owe money when you file your taxes. It’s better to overestimate than to underestimate your yearly income. The IRS refunds your money if you overestimate your salary.

Third-Party Health Insurance and Travel Nursing

Another option is to use a third-party insurance supplier. While many websites touting healthcare insurance experts exist, make sure you know what you’re signing up for and what company provides it. Before committing to any plan, ask who does the underwriting. Also, ask if there’s a contractual commitment, if you can renew the plan month to month and if there are any fees associated with cancellation. 

Types of Health Insurance Options Available

The table below outlines the pros and cons of the most common health insurance options for travel nurses. 

	Pros	Cons
Agency-Provided Health Insurance	Simplifies the process of obtaining health insurance May offer more affordable group rates Often provides robust coverage options tailored to healthcare professionals	Tied to employment with the agency May lose coverage if switching agencies Options may be limited to what the agency offers Coverage might vary based on assignment location
COBRA	Allows you to keep your existing employer-sponsored health plan Maintains same coverage and provider network No waiting period for those already covered under the plan	Expensive, must pay full premium plus an administrative fee Coverage limited to 18-36 months, depending on circumstances Available only to those previously enrolled in an employer-sponsored plan
Health Insurance Marketplace	Wide range of plans available Income-based subsidies available to reduce premium costs Ability to find plans that fit specific needs and budgets Includes essential health benefits and covers pre-existing conditions	Premiums can be high, especially without subsidies Can be confusing to compare plans and coverage details Restricted to open enrollment periods unless a qualifying event occurs (include residence changes)
Private Insurance	Wide array of plan options without  Marketplace constraints Purchase at any time without waiting for open enrollment Plans tailored to specific needs and preferences	Often more expensive without the availability of subsidies May not cover pre-existing conditions or offer essential health benefits Quality and comprehensiveness of coverage widely vary
Short-term Health Insurance	Typically less expensive than long-term plans. Can be purchased for short periods. Often has immediate start dates.	May not cover pre-existing conditions or essential health benefits like maternity care and mental health services. Designed for short-term use and not a long-term solution. May not be renewable, requiring frequent reapplication.

Travel Nurse Health Insurance Resources and Tools

Government Resources

• Healthcare.gov 
  • Official federal health insurance exchange providing access to state-specific marketplaces for comparing plans and costs

• Medicaid
  • Offers information on eligibility and enrollment for low-income individuals in state-specific programs

• Medicare
  • For individuals over age 65 or with certain disabilities
  • Provides information on coverage options and enrollment

Professional Organizations

• American Nurses Association 
  • Offers resources and information on health insurance options tailored to nurses
• National Association of Travel Healthcare Organizations
  • Provides guidance and resources for travel healthcare professionals, including health insurance information

Some Travel Nursing Agencies with Benefits

• TotalMed Staffing
  • Includes health insurance benefits that start on day one
• Host Healthcare
  • Offers Day-1 medical benefits and allows travelers to keep their healthcare benefits for up to 30 days between assignments
• Supplemental Health Care
  • Offers full medical, dental, vision, life, and even pet insurance

Insurance Company Websites

• Aetna
• Blue Cross Blue Shield 
• Cigna
• Delta Dental 
• UnitedHealthcare 
• VSP Vision Care 

Regardless of where you’re getting your benefits and insurance, we wish for all nurses to have good health and solid insurance to cover injuries or illnesses when needed.

Download the Vivian app to easily access available jobs for your next contract and find agencies with benefits that suit your needs and lifestyle.

The information in this article is for informational purposes only and subject to change.

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