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Short Term Insurance

Short Term Insurance

People who do not have access to other types of health insurance may benefit from purchasing short-term health insurance because it provides temporary coverage for services such as preventative care, doctor visits, urgent care, and emergency care.

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Short-term health insurance plans typically have a lower premium than other types of medical plans, but they also have a higher deductible. This means that you will have to pay more out-of-pocket costs before your plan starts to cover the costs of your medical care.

When you are considering a short-term health plan, it’s crucial to look over the details carefully to make sure it will meet your needs. It’s important that you understand the plan’s coverage and limitations too. 

Once you are familiar with the plan, you should compare it to other health insurance options to ensure that you find the best one for you.

That’s where My Healthcare Direct can help! After we speak to you about your current situation, we do the research for you and provide you with a list of options. Once we discuss your choices, you make an educated decision, and we will sign you up.

Keep reading to learn more about short-term health insurance plans or explore our comprehensive short term health insurance FAQ page for valuable insights on coverage, benefits and more.

Short Term Insurance Video Transcript >

Short-term medical insurance - what is it and how can it help me?

Hi, Sean Brady here with My Healthcare Direct, and let's dive right in!

All right, what is it? Basically, it's medical insurance that lasts for one month, all the way up to two years or three years from the one month.

What does it cover? So you'll have your doctor's visits, emergency care, urgent care, prescriptions.

Benefits - this is probably the most important one. 

It can potentially lower your monthly premium substantially, and what I mean by that is… you know, let's say you have a Marketplace Plan and you're paying… you know, some of our families, maybe 1,000, 1,500 USD a month. Well, if you're healthy, you can potentially get that down to maybe half with some of these short-term plans. So, really good there.

They have a national PPO network, so as far as network goes, many of the ACA plans are HMO plans, so you need a referral to then see a specialist. It can kind of be cumbersome, a little kind of pain in the butt, so to speak. If that's something that you're trying to get away from - national PPO network with these short term plans - very good thing right there.

And then there's also no tax penalty. So you may be thinking: “Well, Sean, am I going to get penalized if I don't have a Marketplace plan?” Not exactly. As of 2019, there is no more tax penalty. So, something to consider there.

Drawbacks - doesn't offer essential coverage or your 10 basic essential health benefits that are required by law with the ACA.

No maternity benefits. So, that's something to consider, and it doesn't cover pre-existing conditions, that's an important one. If you are struggling with some health ailments or you have something going on, this is probably not the plan for you. 

But if you're healthy, you know, you're paying a little too much in premium, trying to get that down… this is a great option for you.

If you have questions, which I'm sure you do, go ahead and give us a call and we'll answer them for you.

Short Term Insurance Benefits for Necessary Coverage

Short term medical insurance coverage can help you with essential medical expenses when you need it most. Anyone experiencing a lapse in their insurance coverage or a lack of regular health insurance will benefit from short-term plans. 

 The level of coverage will vary from plan to plan, but it will almost always cover:

  • Unexpected illness and injury
  • Inpatient and outpatient hospital services (doctor’s visits, urgent care)
  • Emergency care

Short term plans do not have to follow the rules of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or cover pre-existing conditions. If you are pregnant or have been diagnosed with cancer or another disease or condition within the last 5 years, your maternity care, cancer treatments, etc. will not be covered.*

IS Short Term Health Insurance Necessary?

Short term insurance plans provide minimum essential coverage, which means they usually do not cover:

*There are always exceptions; Some short term insurance plans will include some of this coverage. Contact My Healthcare Direct for more information. 

If you are unsure whether your disability, condition, or illness will be covered under a policy or if you simply want to make sure that certain benefits will be provided, speak with a representative at My Healthcare Direct. We will look at the “exclusions and limitations” of potential plans and help you find a short term plan that’s right for you!

The cost of short-term health insurance will vary depending on the plan you purchase. The most important thing you need to know is that they function on a low-premium model—each plan has a very low monthly premium payment, but high out-of-pocket costs (including both copayment and coinsurance fees). 

Also, while some plans include it, not every plan has caps on annual costs while you’re covered by it.

Who Needs Short-Term Health Insurance?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires all Americans to have health insurance or pay a penalty. However, some people are exempt from this requirement, including those who have a hardship, are members of a religious group opposed to insurance, or are incarcerated.

If you don’t have health insurance, a short-term health insurance plan can provide you with a “safety net” in case of a medical emergency. These plans are meant to fill the gap in coverage and are usually much cheaper than traditional health insurance plans. In addition, if you purchase a short-term health insurance plan, you will not have to pay the ACA penalty.

Short-term health insurance can benefit many people, including those who:  

  • Missed general enrollment period (GEP) for the year (and don’t qualify for a special enrollment period—if you did, you could enroll in Medicare at any point regardless of the GEP).
  • Changed employment status, such as:
    • Between jobs
    • Laid off
    • Temporary employee
    • Seasonal employee
    • On strike
    • Lost your job / Terminated
    • Self-employed
    • Waiting for employer group coverage to start.
  • Are waiting for Medicare coverage or Marketplace coverage to begin (Depending on your time of enrollment, your coverage may not start for 3-6 months.).
  • Traveled outside the network area.

For younger individuals, you may need short term insurance if you are a recent college graduate or a dependent no longer covered under your parents’ plan.

Why Short-Term Health Helps

There are many different types of health insurance plans available on the market today. Some plans are designed to cover you for a short period of time, while others are intended to provide long-term coverage. If you only need coverage for a short period of time, a short-term health plan can be a cost-effective option.

Short-term health plans have become increasingly popular in recent years, as they offer several advantages over traditional health insurance. The greatest benefit of short-term health plans is, of course, their flexibility. 

Plans can last anywhere from as little as 30 days or up to 36 months with a one-time optional renewal. In addition, there is a good chance that you will be accepted for coverage on the same day or the following day that you submit your application. 

Short-term health plans are often much less expensive than a traditional health insurance policy. This is because short-term plans usually have fewer benefits than longer-term plans.

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The exact coverage and cost you get with a short-term insurance plan will vary, which is why it is so important to work with an agency that can find you the best option for your needs. With My Healthcare Direct, you will get the coverage you need fast and easy. To get started, give us a call at (888) 959-1028 today.

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We are not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.