If you're a travel nurse living in Lafayette or elsewhere in Acadiana, I can help you purchase a nationwide PPO in Louisiana. Let's review how to stay insured while you're between assignments and working in other parts of the country.
Hi, I'm Sam Jaber. I'm a health insurance broker licensed in 36 states. I enjoy working with travel nurses because their insurance needs are different from those of people who work in one place all year. We can take care of the whole process over the phone.
Imagine a nurse from Breaux Bridge who completed her training in Lafayette and spent several years working in labor and delivery before accepting travel assignments. She decided to keep her home near Lafayette, with family only ten minutes away and crawfish season worth coming back for. Her schedule this year took her first to Denver, then Seattle, and Raleigh is next. Each agency insurance plan stopped when its corresponding contract ended. Whenever she's between jobs, she returns to Acadiana and shops for personal coverage through HealthCare.gov. The challenge is finding insurance that makes sense both at home and while traveling.
In 2026, Lafayette Parish residents have 32 individual marketplace medical plans available: 13 EPOs, 11 POS plans and 8 PPOs. For someone age 40 without subsidies, the lowest-priced silver PPO carries a premium 44% higher than the lowest-priced silver plan from another network category.
Another option is a private nationwide PPO that I can arrange for you in Louisiana. Your health determines the price, and providers in Raleigh, Denver and Seattle can be in network just as your local doctor is.
The amount of marketplace premium assistance you receive is based on household income for the entire coverage year, with eligibility extending up to four times the federal poverty level. Travel nursing income can vary depending on how many assignments you accept, the breaks you take and any per diem work you pick up locally. Use confirmed contracts and reasonably expected assignments to calculate your estimate, then revise it whenever your work plans change.
Louisiana offers a broader Medicaid safety net than many other Southern states. The state expanded Medicaid in 2016, and KFF reports an adult income limit of 138% of the poverty level. That could become relevant if you spend a substantial part of the year away from work.
Losing your agency's health insurance generally gives you 60 days to enroll through HealthCare.gov using a special enrollment period. COBRA lets you continue the previous plan, but voluntarily cancelling it later or letting premiums go unpaid won't give you another enrollment opportunity. Weigh your choices before electing COBRA. Also, request written confirmation of the exact date your agency coverage ends so you know when the enrollment clock starts.
To avoid changing insurance every time a contract finishes, some nurses purchase personal coverage they maintain for the full year, including every break between assignments.
Next step: Give me a call before your assignment ends, and we'll arrange coverage so you're insured during the weeks you spend back home.
You can apply the credit only through HealthCare.gov. Since it's based on a benchmark silver plan, choosing the PPO means paying its additional 44% yourself. That's worth weighing carefully when you travel. An EPO usually covers out-of-network services only for emergencies, and you'll spend much of the year outside Acadiana. If you're away nine months out of twelve, paying extra for the PPO's out-of-network benefits could make sense. If you're home more frequently, the local plan may be better. I'll help you compare both.
Next step: Share your assignment schedule, and I'll compare Lafayette's PPO with the other local plans after applying your credit, including what you'd pay for out-of-network care.
If you don't qualify for a subsidy, you're paying the full marketplace PPO premium even though providers in your assignment cities are still considered out of network. That's when I'd compare it with a private nationwide PPO. You'll complete a medical questionnaire, after which the insurer may approve coverage, approve it while excluding one diagnosis, or decline the application. Nurses in good health often receive premiums below full marketplace rates. Before choosing, we'll review the benefits and limitations of each policy together.
Next step: Schedule a call with me, and I'll compare a nationwide PPO quote with the unsubsidized HealthCare.gov plan prices offered in Lafayette Parish.
Straight answers, no sales pitch.
Yes. Lafayette Parish offers eight PPOs, and the lowest-priced silver PPO is 44% more expensive than the lowest-priced silver plan of another network type.
Ordinarily, only emergency treatment is covered. EPO plans generally don't pay for routine medical services received outside their provider network.
You may qualify when your household's yearly income is no higher than 138% of the federal poverty level.
Yes. If you're healthy, I can help you purchase one privately, regardless of your Louisiana parish.
Tell me which Louisiana parish you call home, when your assignments are scheduled this year and where you may head next. I'll review coverage for the time between contracts and quote insurance that follows you.
The guide for every state, and other work I help with