Whether retired, traveling solo or RVing with small children, the thought of not being able to get good healthcare on the road is one of the biggest deterrents holding people back from pursuing their travel dreams. Fortunately, there are more options today than ever before. So, don’t let fear of not being able to find affordable care hold you back.
One of the biggest challenges is finding clinics and doctors “within the network” of existing insurance policies. Out-of-network options are often ghastly expensive, and it’s super inconvenient to rush home every time you want to visit your doctor.
So, it’s important that Workampers have access to affordable medical services everywhere they go without having to worry about breaking the bank.
Finding Affordable Care on the Road
Traveling can complicate healthcare access, but here are some tips that can help:
Pay Cash
When I was a full-time RVer for three years, I discovered clinics and doctors were often very willing to provide care at discounted rates for customers who pay cash or charge the visit to a credit card. It’s a win-win for everyone.
Doctors avoid the hassle of filling out endless forms and waiting weeks to get reimbursed by an insurance company. Patients get the same high level of care while saving money, and can even earn rewards by charging a visit to their credit card.
Urgent Care Centers
Urgent care centers have sprung up in many bigger cities, and some pharmacies have mini-clinics staffed by nurse practitioners who can treat routine illnesses and prescribe medications. Hint: Call first before visiting any urgent care center. If the staff can’t tell you in advance what it will cost to get service, then avoid it like the plague so you aren’t shocked by a bill for hundreds of dollars.
Virtual Care
Virtual health care offers a convenient solution for travelers, providing access to medical professionals from anywhere. Through online consultations, you can receive advice, diagnoses, and even prescriptions without needing to visit a physical clinic. This service is invaluable for managing chronic conditions, addressing sudden non-emergency health concerns, and ensuring continuous care while on the move. Virtual care platforms are often accessible 24/7, making it easier to fit medical consultations into your travel schedule.
Alternative Healthcare Solutions for RVers
It’s the big illnesses or unforeseen accidents which can cause real financial problems. That’s why it’s a good idea to have some type of protection against major medical expenses.
The federal government waded into the healthcare arena in 2010 by passing the “Affordable Care Act.” Although it made insurance coverage available to some people who did not have it in the past, it turned out to be a bureaucratic boondoggle that rendered healthcare anything but affordable.
For me, buying insurance through the program would have cost more than $1,000 in monthly premiums back in 2014. Yet, coverage really didn’t kick in until I paid $13,000 annually in deductibles and co-pays (GULP). I considered myself very fortunate to have discovered a truly affordable alternative.
Here are some of the more popular options.
Healthy Nomads – Now Just Zion HealthShare
[DISCONTINUED AS OF JANUARY 2025] Healthy Nomads was a program designed by Kyle Henson, a full-time RVer who truly understands what RVers need when traveling from place to place. Healthy Nomads was developed in cooperation with Zion HealthShare.
As of January 2025, Healthy Nomads has been discontinued, however the program is still up and running with Zion HealthShare. Zion HealthShare is a non-profit organization that allows members to contribute to each other’s medical expenses, also called medical cost sharing. Individual membership is available to those under the age of 65.
Kyle is still serving clients via his new website Henson Insurance Group.
Christian Healthcare Ministries
While Healthy Nomads has no faith component, Christian Healthcare Ministries does, and it expects members to live a Christian lifestyle and abide by a statement of beliefs. The Ohio-based organization has taken care of 100% of members’ eligible medical bills since 1981.
The program is designed to ease the burden of catastrophic medical expenses. It also offers bill-sharing services for which no contract is required. Members can select from one of three levels with payments made per month, per person, which the organization calls “units.” However, no family pays for more than three units per month, regardless of the number of dependent children. The levels are:
- Bronze is $92 per month, per unit, but the minimum expense to qualify for sharing must total at least $5,000 per incident or illness.
- Silver costs $138 per unit, but the minimum amount to qualify for sharing is $2,500.
- Gold is $240 monthly per unit with minimum expense for sharing set at $1,000. However, the plan also covers maternity costs, physical therapy, home healthcare and incident-related prescriptions.
Regardless of the plan, the program helps pay for costs associated with an illness or incident, such as doctor visits, tests, x-rays, ambulance, hospital admission, surgery, etc. All expenses above the minimum qualifying limit for a particular level can be shared up to a total of $125,000 per incident.
However, for an additional $27 per month, per unit, members can use CHM Plus to eliminate the $125,000 limit so all expenses can be shared regardless of total cost.
Christian Healthcare Ministries also adopted a telehealth option providing 24/7 access to licensed physicians via the telephone or a video chat. Members can benefit from the Bring-a-Friend feature, which offers financial rewards for referring others to the organization.
This program reimbursed me 100% of medical costs associated with a mini-stroke in 2018.
For more information, visit www.chministries.org.
Medicare Supplemental Insurance
People who are covered by Medicare – usually retirees over age 65 who collect Social Security – can get coverage under original Medicare or Medicare Advantage. Either way, enrollees have the ability to seek care from any Medicare-participating doctor, clinic or hospital.
There are four parts of coverage for Medicare:
- Part A covers inpatient hospital stays as well as nursing homes and hospice care.
- Part B covers outpatient medical care from doctors and clinics, plus medical supplies and some preventive services.
- Part C, which is also called Medicare Advantage, covers Medicare A and B plus many add-on costs, like prescriptions, dental, vision, hearing and mental health services. Some plans include fitness programs, too.
- Part D covers the cost for prescription drugs.
With Medicare, there is no limit to what participants pay out-of-pocket each year, unless they have some type of supplemental coverage like Medicaid or Medigap. Nor does the original plan cover prescription drugs.
Another option is Medicare Advantage. These private insurance plans contract with the government to provide Medicare A and B coverage as well as additional benefits. Historically, these plans were not a good fit for RVers due to their local HMO network requirements. But, today there are several plans affiliated with nationwide networks. Some plans don’t even have a monthly premium.
Medical savings accounts can also be set up under Medicare Advantage. Those accounts provide some cost benefits by setting aside money annually or every month, and then allocating those funds exclusively for healthcare needs.
Other Healthcare Options for Rvers
There was a discussion on Facebook recently regarding healthcare options for RVers. More than 150 people chimed in with their recommendations for obtaining affordable care.
While many people claimed they didn’t need to worry about healthcare because they somehow “avoided accidents,” lived a healthy lifestyle, and simply paid for medical services in cash, here are some of the suggestions:
- Cary suggested people go to Mexico, where service is provided faster at less cost.
- As a retired military member, Brian uses TriCare.
- Michael recommended Liberty Health Share and Medi-Share as faith-based options.
- Neal suggested OneShare Health as another faith-based option.
- Laine recommended Care Credit, which is a private health and wellness credit card with flexible payment options.
- A number of people praised the Health Insurance Marketplace, which provides plans under the Affordable Care Act at www.healthcare.gov.
Healthcare on the road doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right plan and preparation, RVers can enjoy peace of mind while pursuing the lifestyle they love. Don’t let healthcare concerns deter your RVing dreams. With various options available, you can travel confidently knowing you’re covered.
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