Short-term medical insurance plans offer temporary health coverage that are lightly-regulated, noncompliant with Affordable Care Act guidelines, and provide limited benefits at higher costs. They’re generally offered across most states.
If you’re considering purchasing a short-term plan, be sure to read all of its fine print before making your decision. Furthermore, research the insurer and look for one with an excellent financial strength rating.
1. Online
Short term health insurance plans can be purchased online through various insurance providers. When shopping for such coverage, it’s essential to establish what coverage meets your specific needs and compare plans carefully – looking at annual deductibles, coinsurance costs and coverage limits as well as out-of-pocket expenses such as prescription drug coverage or cost sharing arrangements.
Short term health insurance plans typically do not cover preexisting conditions or certain categories such as mental health and substance use services or vision care, and most policies require medical underwriting before providing coverage in some states. Furthermore, state regulations may prohibit coverage in some areas altogether.
When purchasing short-term health insurance plans, it is necessary to submit an application and provide accurate details about yourself and any dependents covered under the policy. You will also have to decide how long you would like the policy to last; in most states short-term health plans can be renewed up to 36 months; some states however impose restrictions or ban the practice entirely.
Once you’ve submitted an application and provided all required information, the next step will be waiting for approval and coverage. When approved, typically your insurer will send policy details and cards – however you will still be responsible for paying any initial premium upfront.
Brokers offer another avenue when looking for short-term health insurance, helping find plans tailored specifically to your needs and budget, while they may provide assistance during the application process. While brokers are an invaluable resource when applying for coverage with complex medical histories, it should always be remembered that they do not guarantee issue coverage and health status may hinder obtaining one.
2. In-person
Many communities offer assistance from people and organizations who can assist you in applying for and enrolling in the Marketplace. They can answer questions, assist with selecting plans, and even take over the whole enrollment process for you. You can search using your city, state and ZIP code using Find Local Help tool – some may even provide help in languages other than English as well as additional specialized services.
The Affordable Care Act provided affordable comprehensive medical coverage to millions of Americans, but some consumers remain unable to obtain coverage due to various reasons. This may include failing to apply during open or special enrollment periods or being disqualified for tax credits that help lower monthly premiums.
Consumers looking for alternatives to ACA-compliant health insurance should consider short term medical plans as an option. These lightly regulated temporary policies offer different duration, benefits and costs between insurers.
Short term health insurance also excludes pre-existing conditions. If you make a claim related to something present before starting the plan, even undiagnosed, it could lead the insurer to investigate and deny payment for treatment of that condition – potentially leaving you without future coverage if denied!
Depending on the type of short-term health insurance plan you purchase, you may be required to use only in-network providers for care or reimbursed based on a reduced charge (known as balance billing). Other plans are known as indemnity policies which do not restrict you to using network doctors and hospitals but instead reimburse all charges up to an agreed maximum benefit set by insurer.
Some states restrict the length of time short-term health insurance can be renewed and others do not permit renewal at all. Due to cost and coverage differences between short-term health plans and ACA compliant plans, short term health coverage can become expensive option for some.
3. Over the Phone
Short-term health insurance plans provide a convenient option for filling gaps in coverage. Available outside of open enrollment and lasting from several months to an entire year, short-term medical plans provide limited coverage with often higher deductibles and coinsurance than traditional plans.
Medically underwritten plans require insurers to conduct an in-depth review of your health history. Furthermore, these policies do not cover preexisting conditions – something to keep in mind before making your decision. Due to these constraints and restrictions, these plans may not be the right fit for everyone; so before making a final decision it’s wise to carefully consider all their possible advantages and disadvantages before forming an opinion on one plan over the other.
There are websites that provide quotes from multiple insurers offering short term health insurance in your area. While these don’t sell policies directly, they make comparing various options much simpler and can save time and effort by helping find you an appropriate policy more quickly. These typically charge fees for their services but could help save both time and effort by helping find you your plan quickly.
As soon as you’ve located a website offering short-term health insurance in your area, begin by entering some basic information. When choosing a plan that best meets your needs, complete your application by providing accurate details about yourself and any dependents, followed by payment information to cover its initial premium payment.
After you submit the application, the insurer will send a confirmation of coverage which outlines all your benefits, deductibles and coverage limits as well as policy numbers and contact information in case any queries arise.
Before purchasing a short-term health plan, compare coverage, costs, and deductibles to ensure it fits your needs. Also take into account your provider’s financial strength rating; an organization with strong resources has more chances of paying claims when needed. Lastly, look for plans which feature doctors or hospitals you prefer working with.
4. In-person with an Agent
Short-term health insurance plans may be available through local agents or brokers in some states, although you will usually need to complete a medical questionnaire in order to be eligible. You will also be asked about any preexisting conditions you have and disclose any pre-existing conditions you have. While these plans don’t offer as many protections as ACA major medical plans, they offer temporary solutions when need be.
Cost of short-term plans depend on their length and type of coverage; some policies provide up to one year of protection while others may only last three months and need renewing every few times. If you would like more information about short-term insurance plans online resources are readily available.
Before purchasing short-term health insurance plans, it is essential to fully comprehend their pros and cons. Most such plans do not provide coverage for certain services like maternity and substance abuse treatment as well as being exempt from meeting Affordable Care Act guidelines – potentially leaving out key benefits such as prescription drug coverage.
Furthermore, short-term plans tend to be costly and only available during a specific time period, making them unsuitable for people seeking long-term coverage. If you are currently between jobs or waiting for employer health coverage to start up again, short-term policies could provide affordable gap coverage options.
eHealth makes it simple and straightforward to compare and select short-term health insurance plans that best suit your needs and budget. Our licensed agents are standing by to assist in finding an option that will meet them all!
Although the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has made healthcare more accessible for millions of Americans, some consumers may require temporary coverage due to life events making them ineligible for an ACA major medical plan (i.e. move, marriage or birth of child) or because their subsidized premiums make Marketplace plans unaffordable.
