Domicile - RV-Dreams Community Forum

rgrrmg · RV-Dreams Family Member

Domicile

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Roger,
Welcome!
Use the blue bar at the top of the forum , find the search button and type in domicile. Real all posted, then type insurance or medical care. You'll come up with a lot of information. As Howard pointed out on a recent journal entry, none of the top 3 RVer domicile states (SD, TX, & FL) are enrolled in the health care exchanges if I'm saying that correctly.

Keep reading. 😄

Sherry

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Roger,

Medical insurance isn't the only thing to consider. When you are researching for a domicile state, you may also want to consider whether the state taxes certain retirement incomes, whether it even has a state income tax if one is still working some, and even insurance for vehicles is affected by different states.

I'm thinking that there is a forum participant here that has done a lot of research on this topic and has created a spreadsheet with their results. Right at the moment, I can't remember the username, so I may return with it later, if they don't step in and mention it themselves. Since it is a spreadsheet file, those can't be "inserted" or attached to the forums, so if you are interested in that, you would have to contact them via private messaging and request that they e-mail it to you.

Good luck.

EDIT: I went and used "Domicile" as a search function and found several links. On one of those links, the lady with the username of "cherylbrv" is the one that did the research. She speaks of her Excel file in one of the comments.

Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Sunday 6th of October 2013 07:41:33 AM

el Rojo and Pam · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome Roger,

I contacted Cheryl by private message and she sent me her spreadsheet right a way. You can tell she spent many hours compiling this information and her willingness to share goes beyond measure.

Thanks again Cheryl for your time and effort on this.

Red

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

There are many considerations for domicile and health insurance.

I keep trying to get into the federal exchange site to see what the options actually offer, but one of the biggest concerns about subsidized insurance plans for us nomads is - will you have coverage when you travel outside your home base region? Many health insurance plans offer nothing more than emergency coverage, and restrict you to using 'local' doctors for routine stuff or self-paying. So your 'free' coverage may actually end up being costly anyway if you plan to travel much outside your home base county or state.

Here's some articles we've written in the past about these two issues:

www.technomadia.com/domicile
http:/.www.technomadia.com/healthcare

I'll be updating them as more nomadic folks report in what their options are under various state & federal exchanges for healthcare.

- Cherie

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I think 36 states aren't going to set up exchanges. The way I understand it, there is a "bleep" in that the way it was written, subsidies would not necessarily be available for those in the federal exchange and this touches on that subject: www.americanbar.org/content/newsletter/publications/aba_health_esource_home/aba_health_law_esource_0912_sanders.html Also, with Medi-Cal, if that is a type of Medicaid, there are income restrictions and restrictions on assets in order to qualify. My adult son gets Medicaid since he has Down syndrome, now farmed out to 3 insurance companies in KS and care is limited if out of state and they keep chipping away at it. It looks like everyone needs to look carefully because for some, costs in the exchange are turning out to be higher and I would check to see if there is any solid word on subsidies for those that use the federal exchange. We both have VA Healthcare since we are veterans and it does meet the standard. Anyone that is a veteran should go to the VA website to see if they qualify but at this time, there are income and asset guidelines that have to be met but it wouldn't hurt to check anyway since the application is short.

I have purchased a book comparing domicile choices but it is a difficult decision depending on the individual(s) and their needs so it is far from a one-size-fits-all.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Something to think about......

I personally keep my domicile state in an area that I am going to pass thru often.....It is in a position that if medical needs arise I can get there within a reasonable time. all my basic and preventive care will be done there.

you will not save money by not thinking it fully thru.......you might save 4 thousand a year thru avoiding taxes but will double that amount or triple it in cash payouts for your medical deductibles.......not to mention they now will be able to tell you who and where you will be able to see and go to be treated.

My domicile state requires me to be there physically so many days a year.....I plan on being there , can get my medical visits done......fulfill my residency requirements.....and relax in a good spot and dont have to stay put.

rgrrmg · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thank you all for some great information, not sure how I will go yet. I know I have some time to make a decision, since my brother is an accountant I rely on his knowledge quite a bit. My income will be low enough that taxes really won't affect me that much, so my research right now is going to be finding a way to keep the medical costs down to a minimum if I ever need it.

Thanks!

Roger

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

I've also done some research on the domicile issue. I compared licensing fees, license requirements including which states require a CDL is you are over 26K (we are over that limit and didn't want that restriction), vehicle insurance costs based on a motorhome we were considering at that time, mail forwarding services / options, sales tax, etc.

Note - I did not research health care, I have a corporate, work from home (which is now whereever the RV is parked job that provides good health benefits).

And I compiled this a year ago, right after last year's fall rally in Harrisburg OR and have not updated it since then after we made our decision on state, rig, etc. Happy to share it you send me a PM with your email, just had to add a couple of notes since we know how quickly state governments can change things.