As a travel nurse, the world is your oyster. This short-term role offers flexibility and freedom so you can lend a helping hand whenever—and wherever—your skills are needed. As you consider the long list of perks for this job, you may be wondering if it includes health insurance, too.
Do travel nurses get medical benefits? At Host Healthcare, they sure do.
In order for travel nurses to take care of others, they need to be taken care of, too. That’s why medical benefits are a must when it comes to keeping you healthy and offering you peace of mind as you travel around the country. While filling out travel nurse applications and reaching out to travel nurse recruiters, it is important to keep medical benefits in mind.
Keep reading to learn more about what to expect as a travel nurse with Host Healthcare and what kind of medical benefits you’ll be eligible for as you begin your journey.
The Importance of Medical Benefits
Medical benefits ensure that you’re able to perform your travel nursing job in the best shape possible. So, with agency-provided health insurance like Host Healthcare, you should expect day-one benefits like:
- Medical care
- Dental care
- Vision benefits
Plus, you can also access voluntary benefits that include coverage for critical illness, short-term disability, accidents, and whole life.
Gaps in health coverage can be stressful—and that kind of stress can prevent you from providing the best service possible for your patients. So, as you consider your travel nursing assignments, guarantee that their coverage has everything you need to feel cared for.
Other Benefits You May Need
As a travel nurse, you have the option to use your agency’s insurance to cover your medical and health needs. In terms of quality coverage, different companies typically offer different benefits.
That said, quality providers should offer everything we’ve mentioned above, plus:
- Weekly pay
- 401(k) match
- Bonus programs
- License reimbursement offer
- Housing options/stipends
How do you know if agency-provided insurance is right for you? This option is ideal for those looking to foster a long-term, lasting partnership with their agency. Plus, it’s often easier to accept your agency’s insurance than to find an alternative option that’s both affordable—and offers full coverage.
Health Insurance Coverage Options
If you’re unsure of what direction to go in when it comes to your insurance provider, you may want to consider these three options:
- You can accept the insurance plans your agency offers.
- You can find your own private health insurance provider.
- You can choose not to have any health insurance altogether.
As we’ve mentioned before, health insurance protects you in case of an emergency. So, it’s important to have some type of coverage as you travel from place to place. Plus, some states require you to have some form of health insurance. In those cases, individuals who are uninsured may be subject to a fine.1
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to insurance for travel nurses. Both agency-provided insurance and private health insurance have their pros and cons.
Agency-Provided Insurance vs Private Insurance
How do you know what option will benefit you the most? Let’s explore a few factors:2
- Coverage – Depending on what coverage you want, both an agency and private insurance provider may offer what you need. That said, private insurance may not cover you in all 50 states or internationally.
- Price – Private insurance can offer you benefits beyond health, but it may be more expensive than if you were to enroll through your travel nursing agency.
- Convenience – Finding your own private insurer can be challenging—especially if you don’t know where to start or what you’re looking for. Agency-provided insurance can be more convenient if it offers the full coverage you need.
What to Consider as a Travel Nurse
Access to health insurance is a must as a travel nurse. With that said, there are a number of questions you need to have answered before you hit the road for your next assignment.
For example:
- Do you have a spouse or dependents that need to be covered?
- What kind of coverage are you looking for?
- Will you need time off in between your assignments?
- Do you plan to pursue your travel nursing career with one agency for assignments or multiple?
Know your options and know what you want. When you’re well-informed about your coverage, you can fully enjoy the benefits of being a travel nurse without having to sacrifice any of life’s essentials.
Stay Protected with Host Healthcare
Nurses in permanent staff positions may hesitate to transition into the lifestyle of a traveling nurse. It may seem as if you have to sacrifice security for freedom—but that is far from the case. You can have both security and freedom, especially with an agency dedicated to nurturing long-lasting partnerships.
At Host Healthcare, our main focus is offering our Travelers long-term support so that they can experience all of the benefits of this career path. We offer a full range of medical benefits to ensure you’re protected during your travels—from day one.
If you’ve mastered flexibility as a nurse, yet are interested in working in a role that offers both peace of mind and excellent benefits, it’s time to consider Host Healthcare. Apply to be a Traveler today.
Sources:
- Lake, Rebecca. “Is Health Insurance Mandatory?” Investopedia, Investopedia, 23 Mar. 2022, https://www.investopedia.com/is-health-insurance-mandatory-4773106
- Beaker, Full. “Travel Nursing Benefits: Health Insurance & 401(k).” Travel Nursing, Chaunie Brusie, 9 Apr. 2021, https://www.travelnursing.org/travel-nurse-benefits/
