US Citizens - Extended travel and Obamacare

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sam1000
sam1000

Considering a 6 month extended travel break next year but with the new Obamacare requirements I am wondering what people here in the US are doing about this. Normally I would take out a World Nomads policy for a few hundred dollars for the 6 month term. But I am not sure if World Nomads is actually a Obamacare compliant policy (I don't think it is)...

Local insurance policies are prohibitively expensive (I am over 40) and in addition do not even cover anything outside the US so essentially they are pointless. The cheapest policy I found that covers overseas with a ridiculous $10,000 deductible was a whopping $450/month!!!!

What are you extended travelers doing about Obamacare compliance? I know you are exempt if outside the US for 330 days but what if it is less?

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k8evan5
k8evan5

Which state you are from will most definitely make a difference, but I have been getting my insurance through an Affordable Care Act compliant website in CT, receiving monthly stipends to help with the cost. However, upon re-enrolling for the 2015 year, I had to update my income (which will be negligent as I will be out of the country starting Jan1 until October). With this update, I was then elligible for the free state insurance offered in CT (called Husky). I can't speak for your state, but perhaps there is a similar offer. This way, I am still compliant with the ACA, but at no extra cost to myself. You may not be elligible for free health care if you income is too high, but if you go through the exchange you may find a bare minimum catastrophic only plan that better fits your budget. I am also choosing to get medical and travel insurance for while I am away... and you may want the same. Try insuremytrip.com for some better and more personalized pricing (pick and choose what to cover) than what world nomads offers. Good luck!

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muteki
muteki

I'm still trying to figure this out as well, since I was away most of last year and will be away some of next...

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sam1000
sam1000

thanks, I am in California. The problem is that I will have income partly in the departing year too high to qualify and the following year I will have no income until I get another job. So not sure if it qualifies. This whole thing is a pain in the rear.

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