Medical considerations while travelling & working abroad for a long duration

I am a US citizen living in California. I'd like to get out of the States for a year or more, and I'm trying to understand what the medical insurance implications are.

I currently buy my own medical insurance through the Covered California system (Obamacare marketplace). I'd be out of the state for long enough that I wouldn't be eligible to keep it. Clearly I'd have to get travel/medical insurance, but it seems geared for shorter term trips like vacations, and only covers medical accidents like broken bones.

Say while abroad I was diagnosed with a major medical condition (such as cancer) that would require extensive medical treatment. What would my options be? From my research so far, travel/medical insurance wouldn't cover me. I assume I'd return to the States for treatment, but I'd have to sign up for coverage while having the preexisting condition. Seems fraught.

Or say I was staying put in a country that has a Work Holiday Visa (like New Zealand). Any chance that country would cover me? Seems unlikely but I'm asking anyway.

Any insights would be appreciated.



Submitted December 21, 2019 at 08:37PM by i00-00i https://ift.tt/2Mk4sJ0

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