Short-term health insurance plans provide you with coverage for a limited period of time, and may be an ideal solution for those between jobs or those waiting for other health insurance to start. Typically, short-term plans offer coverage up to six months and some plans may offer coverage up to 12 months. If you think you'll need coverage for a longer period of time, you may want to look at a standard major medical health insurance option like one of our individual and family health insurance plans.
It is also important to note that short-term health insurance is not considered minimum essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or Obamacare), and even if you enroll in and maintain short-term coverage, you may still be subject to the tax penalty. Please visit our Affordable Care Act Resource Center for more information about the ACA and its implications.
The application process for short-term health insurance is usually simpler than standard, longer-term health insurance. Short-term health insurance plans are designed only to protect against unforeseen accidents or illnesses, and, therefore, typically do not include coverage for preventive care, physicals, immunizations, dental or vision care.
Purchasing a short-term medical insurance plan will make you ineligible for any guaranteed-issue individual health plans commonly referred to as HIPAA Plans. Please consult your benefits advisor to discuss your rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other rights under state law.
Short-term health insurance plans typically do not cover pre-existing medical conditions. The definition of a pre-existing condition varies by state, but, in general, short-term health insurance policies exclude coverage for conditions that have been diagnosed or treated within the previous 3 to 5 years.
