# Travel & Per Diem Nurses — Coverage Checklist

*Between contracts, still covered.* Work through this before you shop or renew.

## Get your number right
- [ ] Start from: taxable hourly wages (w-2, not stipends)
- [ ] Qualified stipends generally do not count toward MAGI while you maintain a tax home — confirm your situation with your tax preparer.
- [ ] Add all other household income (spouse W-2, side work) — the marketplace wants one combined figure

## The traps in your line of work
- [ ] Have an answer for: Agency coverage ending the day an assignment ends
- [ ] Have an answer for: Estimating income off the full package rather than taxable wages
- [ ] Have an answer for: A home-state network that does not reach the assignment state
- [ ] Have an answer for: Short-term plans bought without understanding what they exclude

## Fast facts to remember
- **13 weeks** — a typical contract
- **Stipends** — generally not MAGI
- **Tax home** — keeps stipends qualified

## Before you enroll
- [ ] List your doctors and check them against the plan network
- [ ] List prescriptions and check the formulary
- [ ] Compare at least two plans on deductible AND network, not premium alone

Full guide: https://bishopplans.com/health-insurance-for/ · Tools: https://bishopplans.com/health-insurance-for/tools/
Free to share. Not legal or tax advice.