Health Insurance Options For Travel Healthcare Pros

Health insurance can be one of the trickiest parts of travel healthcare. Because assignments are temporary, you can’t always rely on a single employer’s plan year-round, and gaps in coverage can get expensive fast. The good news? You have options, and each comes with its own pros, cons, and quirks. In this post, I’m breaking down three common ways travel nurses and allied healthcare professionals handle health insurance on the road: agency-provided plans, private insurance groups, and health-sharing programs. My hope is that by the end, you’ll have a clearer idea of which path might be the best fit for your lifestyle, budget, and comfort level.

Option 1: Agency-Provided Insurance

Many travel healthcare agencies offer their own group health insurance plans. Coverage typically starts on the first day of the month after your first worked day and ends the last day of the month your contract ends—unless you already have another assignment lined up and the gap between jobs is short (the exact timeframe varies by agency). Some agencies will even allow you to keep your deductible progress if you return after a brief break. This option is convenient because enrollment is handled through your agency, costs are often deducted from your paycheck, and coverage is tied directly to your work assignments.

Option 2: Private insurance groups

 

While you can browse HealthCare.gov for insurance options outside of an employer plan, many of those choices can be pretty pricey on their own. To be more competitive, some private companies have partnered with multiple agencies to offer special plans you won’t find anywhere else.

John and I worked with one of these companies, Olunna, which helps travelers who are frustrated with the limited or costly options from their agencies. Jason at Olunna is fantastic, and through No Ordinary Path we’ve maintained a great relationship with him.

Here’s his contact information: I recommend giving Jason a call and letting him know you’re connected to me, Atlas, and NOP. John and I have referred several people to him over the years, and he’s been able to find great options for many of them.

Option 3: The Health-Share

Before getting private insurance, we used a health-sharing program called Christian Healthcare Ministries - a model that works quite differently from traditional coverage. There are many companies to choose from, and while costs are often lower than standard insurance, the structure is unique.

With a HealthShare, you pay a set amount each month into a shared pool funded by all members. When you have medical expenses, you submit your bills to the HealthShare for reimbursement (within their specific guidelines). Each company has its own rules about what is and isn’t eligible. Many are faith-based, though there are also secular options.

If this interests you, I recommend doing a bit of research to explore the different organizations and see if one might fit your needs.

Agency Insurance vs. Private Insurance vs. Health Share

Feature	Agency-Provided Insurance	Private Insurance (Olunna)	Health Share (Christian Healthcare Ministries)
Coverage starts quickly	✅ Usually starts on the first day of the month after your first worked day	❌ Must enroll and wait for policy start date	❌ Must enroll and wait for membership to activate
Coverage carries over between contracts if certain conditions are met	✅ If a new assignment is signed before the current one ends and the gap is short (varies by agency)	✅ As long as you keep paying premiums	✅ As long as you keep paying monthly share
Keeps deductible amounts if returning after break	✅ With many agencies, if you return within a set time frame	❌	❌
Works nationwide	✅	✅	✅
Access to established provider networks	✅	✅	❌ Varies by provider acceptance
Predictable monthly cost & traditional coverage	✅	✅	❌
May be less expensive than other insurance	❌	❌	✅
Covers more preventive & ongoing care	✅	✅	❌ Limited to program rules
Secular option	✅	✅	Limited – many are faith-based
Simple monthly “share” payment model	❌	❌	✅
Rules may limit reimbursement	❌	❌	✅
Best For	Travelers who want low-hassle coverage tied directly to their contract	Travelers who want independent coverage not tied to agency work	Travelers seeking lower-cost options and who are comfortable with reimbursement models

What It All Means for You

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to health insurance as a traveler. Your best option depends on how often you work contracts, your budget, your health needs, and how much flexibility you want between assignments. The most important thing is making sure you have continuous coverage. As long as you understand the rules and keep up with payments, each of these options can give you peace of mind so you can focus on your assignment and not your insurance.

And if you’re still feeling unsure, I’m always here to help you sort through the options and find the one that fits your situation best!