Figuring out state to domicile - RV-Dreams Community Forum

EverywhereMan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Figuring out state to domicile

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

"My wife and I will need health insurance since Medicare options will be several years out." That rules out SD, since all of their individual plans cover you only in the state and many fulltimers have had to choose FL or TX instead. We are using WA, so have no skin in the game.

Dave and Denise · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have Florida Blue and are covered anywhere in the country for healthcare insurance.
Florida has no state/local income taxes and the sales tax rate is 6% - 6.5%. Not too bad from a tax perspective.

Second Chance · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you're not already a member, join the Escapees RV Club and read through their extensive library of information on domicile for full-time RVers. A lot of research has gone into their resources. We are Texas residents (domicile and mail services provided by Escapees), but can't help you much with health insurance since I'm retired Army and we have Tricare.

Rob

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

Medical is an issue with SD as noted…we shifted from SD to FL last winter. Not medical insurance related but not wanting to drive to SD in December to renew licenses related. Cost is a little more expensive overall with FL.

The key is to get a good mailing service that scans stuff so you can do almost all online and only rarely get actual paper sent. Escapees has a service…but unless they've changed recently all your mail from their FL location gets sent to the main office in TX before being forwarded. We use St. Brendan's Isle in Green Cove Springs…they started as a boat cruiser mailing service and expanded into RVs…great service and we only rarely need actual mail forwarded to us. https://sbi.com.

SBI has a great becoming a FL resident checklist on their site and will help you with a good deal of the paperwork. Chris and Cherie from Technomadia have an article on their site about becoming a FL resident as well with lots of info…but pretty much following the checklist fro SBI works as advertised.

While not strictly domicile related…you can set up all of your financial accounts for Transfer on Death beneficiary if your number of beneficiaries is low enough for that to not be too complicated. That gets all of those assets transferred outside probate and makes your executor's job a lot easier. FL has a thing called a Lady Bird Deed…I assume it's named after the former First Lady…that allows you to transfer real property like a home or condo outside of probate as well…but I don't think you can do one of those for vehicles or RVs. Not sure if other states have a similar provision.

-- Edited by Neil and Connie on Monday 30th of October 2017 11:38:34 AM

Dance Chick · RV-Dreams Family Member

Go to the Escapees forum www.rvnetwork.com. Go almost all the way down to Health Issues and Medical Insurance. There's information there regarding health insurance. From what I can gather, FL is about all that's left for nationwide coverage (EPO/PPO) if you're looking at SD, TX, or FL, which is what you want for traveling. There's also a good thread in the fulltimers section at irv2.com regarding FL. Good Luck!!

-- Edited by Dance Chick on Monday 30th of October 2017 01:48:42 PM

Lynn and Ed · RV-Dreams Family Member

Nina at wheelingit.com posted a good overview on 2018 healthcare options, focused on FL, TX and SD (http://wheelingit.us/2017/10/31/health-insurance-time-2018-considerations-for-pre-medicare-rvers/). If you read the article, I would suggest also reading through the comments -- some good information was shared.

EverywhereMan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you for the advice. we really appreciate your thoughts.

melody · RV-Dreams Family Member

Many thanks for that post, Lynn or Ed, and kudos to the author Nina. I had just received notices on the need to shop for a plan yet again (just set up Florida Blue a few months ago). Florida Blue offers an easy re-up path, but I had gotten an email from the RVer insurance specialists (Portia I think) about the new option available. Sounds like I wouldn't fit in the niche for that, though the telemedicine option would certainly have come in handy.

The whole system is nuts, but thank heaven for people who try to help the rest of us navigate!

Cookie Dough · RV-Dreams Family Member

Melody,
Yes the whole system is nuts, we too are pre Medicare, but fortunate to still have same health insurance as retiree as when I was an employee for state of NY. However getting a Dr to see you for just one visit for a med refill was a chore. One of my meds is a "controlled" substance, so prior physician couldn't just call it in. We took Neil's advice and have St B I for mail, we too are happy with their service.
We left NY, in September and will become FL residents when we get there in December. No, not just by crossing the state line, but like much else one step at a time.

robodriver · RV-Dreams Community Member

sales tax 7.5% most places FL. otherwise what he said Robodriver

Cookie Dough · RV-Dreams Family Member

Piece of FL info

Cookie Dough · RV-Dreams Family Member

Whoops hit post too soon. Anyway, we were paying close to 9% sales tax in our part of NY. Had to pay that when registering our MH back in June. In FL, if one's RV has been registered elsewhere for more than 6 months prior to FL registration, no FL sales tax issue. Please see a formal list. But I recall this part

Dave and Denise · RV-Dreams Family Member

robodriver wrote:
sales tax 7.5% most places FL. otherwise what he said Robodriver

I might be wrong, but I think the sales tax in Florida is 6% and some counties might add on an additional .5%. We live in Martin County and our sales tax rate is 6%.