Full-time RVing offers freedom, adventure, and a lifestyle that traditional employment often can’t match. But that freedom comes with a unique challenge: finding health insurance for full-time RVers that actually works when you don’t have a permanent address.

Many full-time RVers are self-employed, so they don’t have an employer offering benefits. Some travel with families.

And nearly all of them cross state lines regularly, which means a healthcare issue can pop up almost anywhere at any time.

Put all of that together, and you can see why health insurance for full-time RVers isn’t simple.

It’s a common challenge, and yet there’s good news: there are several solid options to choose from, and one of them is likely to fit your situation.

I’m a certified RV inspector, and I’ve also been a full-time RVer for several years. I want to be upfront about something important, though: I’m not a health insurance expert.

What I can offer is firsthand experience, since my family and I have had to navigate these exact decisions ourselves.

In this guide, we’ll walk through seven types of health insurance plans available to full-time RVers, along with the pros and cons of each.

By the end, you should have a much clearer picture of which option makes the most sense for your life on the road.

Table of Contents

• 1. Affordable Care Act (ACA) Plans: A Common Starting Point for Health Insurance for Full-Time RVers
  • Pros of ACA Plans
  • Cons of ACA Plans
• 2. Private Health Insurance Plans
  • Pros of Private Insurance
  • Cons of Private Insurance
• 3. Reimbursement Plans
• 4. Short-Term Health Insurance Plans
  • Pros of Short-Term Plans
  • Cons of Short-Term Plans
• 5. Health Sharing Plans
  • Pros of Health Sharing Plans
  • Cons of Health Sharing Plans
• 6. Telemedicine
  • Pros of Telemedicine
  • Cons of Telemedicine
• 7. Medicare and Medicare Supplements
  • Pros of Medicare Supplements
  • Cons of Medicare Supplements
• A Resource Worth Checking Out
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • What is the best health insurance for full-time RVers, and how do I choose?
  • Can I use my health insurance in every state as a full-time RVer?
  • Do health sharing plans actually work for full-time RVers?
  • What happens if I get sick outside my domicile state on an ACA plan?
  • Is Medicare a good option for full-time RVers?
  • What's the difference between a reimbursement plan and full health insurance?

1. Affordable Care Act (ACA) Plans: A Common Starting Point for Health Insurance for Full-Time RVers

When we first started full-time RVing, an Affordable Care Act plan is what we chose. You probably know this type of plan by its more common name: Obamacare.

You can shop for ACA plans at healthcare.gov, and for many new full-time RVers, this is a great starting point.

Pros of ACA Plans

There’s a lot to like about ACA plans for full-timers.

Comprehensive coverage. These plans offer major medical coverage, so you’re protected for pretty much everything that could come up.

Income-based subsidies. If your income is on the lower side, which is common when people first transition to full-time RVing, the government will subsidize your monthly premium. That’s a big help for many new RVers.

Pre-existing conditions are covered. This is a major benefit, and it’s one that not every plan on this list can offer.

Cons of ACA Plans

However, ACA plans do come with some real limitations for a mobile lifestyle.

Limited to your domicile state. Whatever state you choose as your home base when you begin full-time RVing, you’re restricted to the plan choices offered in that state.

Coverage may not travel with you. Many ACA plans don’t provide healthcare coverage outside your domicile state, so you could end up needing care while you’re across the country and having to travel all the way back home to use your insurance.

In our case, we had a stroke of good fortune. Our domicile state offered a plan usable nationwide, and we used it on several occasions.

But that may not be true where you live, so check the details carefully before you commit.

2. Private Health Insurance Plans

If your income is higher, ACA subsidies won’t help you much, and you might actually pay more for an ACA plan than you would elsewhere. That’s where private health insurance plans come in.

Pros of Private Insurance

The biggest advantage is cost. Private plans are typically less expensive than ACA plans once you’re above the subsidy threshold.

Cons of Private Insurance

The tradeoff is significant, though: private insurance plans usually don’t cover pre-existing conditions. So if you or a family member has an ongoing health issue, this option may not work well for you.

3. Reimbursement Plans

Reimbursement plans aren’t a full health insurance plan in the way most people think of one.

They’re not comprehensive, and they’re definitely not major medical coverage.

Instead, these plans list specific health issues they’ll cover and set a cap on the expenses they’ll pay out for each one.

They often pay in cash when a covered issue arises, but there’s always a ceiling on the payout.

Because of that ceiling, reimbursement plans work best as a supplement rather than a standalone solution.

For example, if you have an ACA plan with a high deductible, a reimbursement plan can help fill the gap while you work toward meeting that deductible.

4. Short-Term Health Insurance Plans

Short-term health insurance is often used by people who’ve left a job and haven’t started another one yet. It provides temporary coverage during that gap.

Pros of Short-Term Plans

These plans come with low premiums, and you can typically enroll at almost any time, which offers a lot of flexibility.

Cons of Short-Term Plans

However, short-term plans usually aren’t fully comprehensive, and they often come with exclusions. On top of that, pre-existing conditions typically aren’t covered.

5. Health Sharing Plans

Health sharing plans are a unique option, and they’ve become popular among full-time RVers.

These plans are usually faith-based, so they’re often connected to a church or a specific religious organization.

Here’s how they typically work: you pay for your healthcare expenses upfront, and the group reimburses you afterward.

Pros of Health Sharing Plans

Low cost. This is the main reason so many full-time RVers have gravitated toward health sharing plans.

Usable almost anywhere. Since these plans aren’t tied to state-based networks the way ACA plans are, they travel well with a mobile lifestyle.

Cons of Health Sharing Plans

But there are some important caveats to know about. These plans typically come with belief-based requirements tied to the organization running them, so if your beliefs don’t align with theirs, the plan may not be a fit.

There have also been reports of some health sharing companies failing to reimburse members as promised.

So before you sign up, research each plan thoroughly and read reviews carefully.

6. Telemedicine

Telemedicine gives you access to a doctor 24 hours a day, seven days a week, over the phone or online, no matter where you’re parked.

Pros of Telemedicine

The biggest advantage is convenience. You can consult a doctor without leaving your RV, and for smaller issues like infections, telemedicine can often get you a prescription quickly.

Cons of Telemedicine

That said, telemedicine isn’t major medical coverage. It’s not a good fit for trauma, surgery, or any serious health issue, so it works best as a supplement to one of the other plans on this list rather than your primary coverage.

7. Medicare and Medicare Supplements

The last option, and the one my wife and I currently use, is Medicare paired with a Medicare supplement plan.

You can use Medicare on its own, but it comes with deductibles that can add up to significant out-of-pocket costs.

That’s where a supplement plan comes in, filling the gaps that Medicare alone leaves behind.

Since we’re over 65, Medicare with a supplement has worked extremely well for our situation.

Pros of Medicare Supplements

Nationwide access. You can visit any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, and the vast majority do.

Affordability. Considering the level of coverage you get, a good Medicare supplement plan is genuinely a great value.

Low out-of-pocket costs. These plans do an excellent job of keeping your potential expenses manageable, so your healthcare risk stays low.

Cons of Medicare Supplements

Honestly, we haven’t run into any real downsides. We’ve been very happy with our Medicare supplement plan so far.

A Resource Worth Checking Out

One popular RVing organization has partnered with a company called RV Insurance Exchange, which is made up entirely of full-time RVers.

They help members choose among several of the plan types covered in this article, and they even offer group plans designed for self-employed, entrepreneurial full-time RVers.

If you’re still narrowing down your options, it may be worth a look.

Conclusion

Choosing health insurance as a full-time RVer takes more thought than a typical employer-sponsored plan, but it’s far from impossible.

Whether you go with an ACA plan, a health sharing plan, Medicare, or a combination of options working together as a supplement, the right choice comes down to your income, your health needs, and how much of the country you plan to cover.

Take the time to research your options, read the fine print, and choose the coverage that fits your specific situation.

Safe and happy travels, my friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best health insurance for full-time RVers, and how do I choose?

There’s no single “best” plan, since the right choice depends on your income, health needs, and how far you travel. ACA plans work well for lower-income RVers who need pre-existing condition coverage, while health sharing plans and Medicare supplements are popular among those who qualify.

Can I use my health insurance in every state as a full-time RVer?

It depends on the plan. Many ACA plans only offer coverage within your domicile state, while health sharing plans and Medicare supplements typically offer nationwide access. Always confirm coverage details before enrolling.

Do health sharing plans actually work for full-time RVers?

Many full-time RVers use health sharing plans successfully because of their low cost and nationwide usability. However, these plans come with belief-based membership requirements, and some companies have had reimbursement issues, so thorough research is essential.

What happens if I get sick outside my domicile state on an ACA plan?

This depends entirely on your specific plan. Some ACA plans, like the one used in this guide, offer coverage nationwide, while others may require you to return to your domicile state for non-emergency care. Check your plan’s out-of-network and out-of-state policies before you rely on it.

Is Medicare a good option for full-time RVers?

Yes, for RVers over 65, Medicare paired with a supplement plan is often an excellent option. It provides access to doctors and hospitals nationwide, keeps out-of-pocket costs low, and offers strong overall value.

What’s the difference between a reimbursement plan and full health insurance?

A reimbursement plan isn’t comprehensive major medical coverage. It only covers specific listed health issues up to a set dollar cap, which makes it useful as a supplement to a broader insurance plan rather than a standalone solution.