Might have to go to Vancouver? (Battle Ground: insurance, law, stores)

[CAjerseychick]

Nah...

I am from the bay area (SF proper actually) he will be fine in Vancouver.
No need to go to the coast.
Its definitely colder and longer darker days in the winter though-- its true Pacific North west up here....
But I really enjoy the actual seasons too!

We have friends in Eureka- that mold everywhere was a real turnoff....

[StealthRabbit]

Hopefully my pollen and dust allergies won't be so bad up there either.

Friends in Vancouver had to move to Sacramento due to pollen.

Good to consider this... BEFORE pulling the plug. Not sure of pollen / fir tree fog season, but I think is April - June. Sometimes cars are covered in yellow dust (Pollen).

No sense making yourself miserable, but I have get to find the PERFECT place.

Allergies would be a deal killer for me.

[faranbrygo]

From the sound of it, the area would still be an improvement over where I am, climatewise:

I'll trade 3 months of whammy allergies for the 8-12 I get here. Additionally, there are certain things I am more allergic to than others. It'll be interesting to see what I am and aren't sensitive to, regionally.

Also, since 2016 was hot from Feb through November here, I'll trade that for 2-3 months of "heat" in a hearbeat(ba dum tish). I had to hide in AC for a great part of 2016, I can handle a couple months here and there.

Now, as long as I can keep my healthcare, it would be a firm win to move up there.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by faranbrygo

From the sound of it, the area would still be an improvement over where I am, climatewise:

...
Now, as long as I can keep my healthcare, it would be a firm win to move up there.

another 'gotcha' for Clark County, WA

Do check your provider, as Almost all of WA has 3 + providers, but due to CC proximity to Portland market, we get fewer options (insurance commission rules / overlap regions).

There is a pretty strong local presence of carriers, Kaiser being a major player.

There are VA options if you have eligibility.

[missca]

I moved here last year from No. CA, no jobs so take your job. Trash all over vancouver, very dirty and cold. I wish I hadn't moved. You also cannot keep your healthcare from a different state. I tried.

[Fata Morgana]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

another 'gotcha' for Clark County, WA

Do check your provider, as Almost all of WA has 3 + providers, but due to CC proximity to Portland market, we get fewer options (insurance commission rules / overlap regions).

There is a pretty strong local presence of carriers, Kaiser being a major player.

There are VA options if you have eligibility.

Originally Posted by missca

I moved here last year from No. CA, no jobs so take your job. Trash all over vancouver, very dirty and cold. I wish I hadn't moved. You also cannot keep your healthcare from a different state. I tried.

Sorry if I'm not understanding but ppl who move to Vancouver from out-of-state and work remotely, they're not allowed to keep their health insurance?

[notnamed]

Yes they are. My employer is based out of Ohio and I use their health insurance at a doctor of my choosing here with no problem.

[Fata Morgana]

Originally Posted by notnamed

Yes they are. My employer is based out of Ohio and I use their health insurance at a doctor of my choosing here with no problem.

Thank you. I wonder what the others were referring to.

[notnamed]

ACA exchanges maybe?

Never heard of a health plan that only works in its home state. Travel would be financially risky.

[StealthRabbit]

There are many (probably most) health plans that are not transportable (Each state regulates carriers / industry)

Especially if you have a regional HMO (i.e. Kaiser), you will be 'out-of-network' if there are no services from that provider in your new area. (you CAN get 'pre-approved care' while traveling, BUT it is NOT an available option during 'open enrollment')

Yes traveling is very risky, in 40 yrs traveling, I only had a couple needs while 'out-of-network', but I did survive 6 weeks on a broken leg until I could get back into network to get patched up. (Fibula, so I could still limp around, it just 'popped' every step, and was VERY painful night and day. )

currently it is not an issue, as I have no affordable healthcare available in USA (pre-age 65, 'retired' / not working since age 49) A(?)CA is $2000+/ month for a $20k annual OOP. Pre A(?)CA HC was $300/ month (catastrophic, no longer available)

Travel insurance(secondary) is VERY cheap, but it is cancelled the minute you return home. We did that last yr, when we spent a yr away from USA. A few claims, they eventually paid (reimbursed). Very reluctantly since we did not have primary HC insurance.