Short Term Health Insurance

Eligibility Team
Researcher & Writer
January 08, 2017

Short term health insurance plans, sometimes referred to as “gap insurance,” are a type of insurance plan that provides health care when a gap in coverage occurs. Individuals who are in good health, experiencing a gap in health care coverage and looking for an affordable way to fill that gap should consider a short term plan.

Short term health insurance is sold by private insurance providers. Because of this, eligibility requirements vary. There is no need to be a U.S. citizen or legal resident to sign up for a plan. However, people with pre-existing medical conditions and women who are pregnant do not usually qualify for this type of coverage.

Coverage can often begin within one day of applying and lasts one to twelve months depending on the plan you choose and which state you live in. The care included in your plan will be limited. Short term plans are designed to cover unexpected events and illnesses and usually cover services such as emergency room visits, surgery and ambulatory services. Preventative care such as physicals and immunizations are not often covered.

Even though short term help plans are not as comprehensive as long term plans, they are a fast, economical and speedy way to gain coverage. Situations where a short term plan may be the best health insurance option include transitioning between insurance plans, such as during a job change, traveling outside your insurance coverage area, being removed as a dependent from a parent or guardian’s plan, or missing the open enrollment period.

Short term health insurance plans are offered by a multitude of insurance providers. There are many sites available online to compare quotes and shop for coverage. When you being your search you should be prepared to answer basic questions about your health history.

Under the Affordable Car Act, individuals not covered by a health insurance plan are subject to a penalty fee. Short term health insurance plans do not meet the requirement for carrying health insurance under the act, meaning having a short term plan will not shield you from this fee.

Short term health insurance, also known as a “gap” plan, offers health insurance coverage on a limited time basis, usually one to twelve months, to bridge gaps between long term coverage. Short term coverage is often needed by individuals switching jobs, travelers venturing outside of their network, students graduating from school, or young adults reaching an age where they can no longer receive coverage under a parent’s plan. This temporary coverage provides peace of mind during a time when long term coverage is being secured.

Short term health insurance plans are available in every state. Plans and coverage differ from state to state depending on the insurance providers and imposed government regulations within each. Since most insurance providers serve specific geographic areas, your search for a plan will often begin by entering your city or zip code.

Fifteen states — Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, and Wyoming — have a 6-month maximum coverage period for short term health insurance plans. The remaining states have a maximum coverage period of one year.

If you are an individual in generally good health looking for an affordable way to get health insurance coverage for a limited amount of time, you should consider purchasing a short term plan.

Eligibility Requirements for Short-Term Health Insurance

Since short term insurance plans are sold by insurance companies in the private market and not held to the same standards as long term health insurance, providers can use their discretion when awarding and renewing short term health coverage. Although insurance companies have the option of extending short term health coverage to anyone, the guidelines below are standard practice when screening applicants.

Short term health coverage is not often extended to Individuals who:

  • Have a pre-existing medical condition (e.g. diabetes, cancer, heart disease or emphysema)
  • Are pregnant
  • Are severely overweight (men over 300 pounds, women over 250 pounds)
  • Have been diagnosed with or have been treated for AIDS or HIV
  • Are eligible for Medicaid
  • Are covered by another health insurance plan
  • Are not a U.S. citizen or legal resident

If you have a pre-existing condition, the insurance company may approve coverage if you’ve been symptom free for at least 3 to 5 years. Some providers may extend limited coverage that does not include care for issues related to a pre-existing condition.

Fast

Since short term health insurance is designed to work in short periods, coverage begins very quickly, often within 24 hours of applying.

Economical

Short term health insurance offers low premiums, which makes it an attractive option for coverage. Generally, a short term health insurance plan costs 50% less than traditional health coverage. However, these low premiums often come with limited coverage and high deductibles.

For example, the cost for a short term health insurance plan for a 30-year-old male from living in California can be as low as $100 a month for a 6-month plan with a $5000 deductible. Under the Affordable Care Act, the least expensive plan for this individual is roughly $175 a month with a $5,000 deductible.

Available

Unlike long term plans, individuals can enroll in short term health insurance plans at any time. If you’ve missed an open enrollment period or are without coverage for any reason, short term health plans are available to close the gap in coverage before a long term plan is in place.

Short term health insurance can offer a low-cost option to continue coverage during certain periods when long term coverage isn’t available. If you are considering purchasing a short term health insurance plan, it’s important to know the differences between this coverage and the long term coverage you may be used to.

In general, short term health insurance only covers major illnesses and accidents. This differs from most long term plans that provide comprehensive care including physicals, checkups, immunizations and preventative care. Basically, short term health insurance is designed to cover serious, unforeseeable events and emergencies, rather than total care. The following are not usually covered by short term health insurance plans:

  • Preventative care
  • Immunizations
  • Physicals  
  • Maternity leave
  • Prescription drugs

Short term plans lack much of the protection found under long term plans. Most short terms plans do not cover pre-existing conditions and you will likely be denied coverage if you have one. If you fail to report a pre-existing condition, coverage can be denied if you get sick while covered by a short term plan.

Short term insurance providers reserve the right to deny coverage based on non-health related reasons and short term insurance providers are not required to renew your plan when it expires. This means that if you make a claim while covered by a short term health insurance plan, you are not likely to be offered continued coverage when the plan is up.

Short Term
Long Term
Enroll anytimeX
Low-costX
Fast enrollment (within 24 hours)X
AccidentsXX
Unforeseen illnessXX
Considered "minimum essential coverage" under the ACAX
Pre-existing conditionsX
ImmunizationsX
Maternity careX
Treatment of mental illnessX

There are many other instances when individuals may experience a gap in health insurance coverage, such as a recent college graduate, person who moves, or dependent who has aged out of being covered by a parent’s plan. Most of these cases are considered “major life events” and allow for special enrollment outside of the standard enrollment period. Enrolling in a long term health plans is usually the better choice since they offer superior coverage. However, there are many gap situations when this type of coverage is not available and short term health insurance can come in handy. Short term coverage is often a good option for people:

Between insurance plans

Transitioning between long term insurance plans can take time. Transitioning or enrolling in a federal (Medicare) or employer plan may result in a gap in coverage that can be filled by a short term health insurance plan. Since short term plans offer quick application and beginning of coverage, individuals between long term plans may use a short term plan to fill in that gap.

Between jobs

A lapse in coverage often occurs when individuals transition from one job to the next. For example, employee benefits may not kick in until after their probation period ends, leaving a gap in coverage. A short term health insurance plan might be right for you if you want to remain covered during a transition like this.

Who missed open enrollment

If you missed the open enrollment period for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act or another insurance provider, you may consider a short term health insurance plan to get coverage before you can enroll in a long term plan. Individuals who have denied coverage, but decide later they would like some, may consider short term insurance between enrollment periods.

Exempt from enrolling under Affordable Care Act and do not qualify for or Medicaid

Depending on your income, you may be exempt from enrolling in health insurance under the Affordable Care Act and also not qualify for Medicaid. In this case, you will not be faced with a penalty fee for not enrolling in a plan, but you will not have health coverage. Short term health insurance plans are an affordable option for individuals who find themselves without coverage in this type of situation.

Who need proof of insurance

Since coverage can begin within 24 hours, individuals needing to show proof of insurance may choose a short term plan to fulfill this requirement as soon as possible.

Traveling

If you are planning a trip outside of your long term health plans’ coverage network, you may consider investing in a supplemental short term plan so you’re covered for unexpected incidences that may happen during travel.

Benefits of Short Term Health Insurance

As with long term plans, short term health insurance plans vary greatly by provider. Many providers offer multiple packages to meet your needs and budget. Coverage reflects the nature of the plan — limited and less robust than lone term plans. Depending on the plan you choose, coverage might include inpatient/outpatient care, emergency room visits, intensive care, ambulatory services, surgical care and more. For most plans, maximum coverage cost ranges between $1 and $2 million. These types of plans do not often limit how much the insured person can pay out of pocket.

Purchasing a Plan

Short term health insurance plans are sold in the private market. If you’ve had long term coverage in the past, you may want to begin your search with your previous provider since many insurance companies provide a variety of coverage options. Many websites offer quotes from a database of providers to help those shopping for insurance choose a plan at the best price.

The insurance provider can help you identify the coverage package that works best for you and your family. To help identify the short term health insurance plan best for you, you should ask your provider about the things most important to you in your coverage. Some examples might be:

  • Am I free to visit any doctor, hospital or pharmacy I want?
  • How much is my deductible?
  • Is there a co-pay?
  • Is there a maximum for the out-of-pocket expenses I’ll be responsible for?
  • Does the plan cover visits to a specialist?

You should also be prepared to share information, such as age, gender and date of birth, for each family member you’d like to cover. You will also be asked basic health screening questions such as “Are you a smoker?” Questions about pre-existing conditions will also need to be answered.

Most providers allow you to choose between a monthly payment plan or an upfront coverage payment. Choose the option that works best for your financial situation.

Affordable Care Act

Before the Affordable Care Act, short term health insurance plans were a great option for individuals without health insurance who could not afford full coverage on their own. Now, individuals who refuse coverage are charged a penalty fee for not having insurance. In 2016, the fee is 2.5% of an individual’s gross adjusted income or $695, whichever is greater. Individuals must prove they have adequate health insurance coverage, or “minimum essential coverage,” to avoid this fee. Minimum essential coverage is usually met when an individual is covered by their employee or enrolled under the Affordable Care Act. It is not met, however, by short term health insurance.

This fact does not undermine the value of short term health insurance, which is a great option in a variety of situations — for people between jobs, who missed open enrollment, or who do not earn enough to be charged a fee for not having coverage. It does mean, however, that you cannot use short term health insurance coverage to avoid enrolling in a long term health plan. Even with short term health coverage, you will still be required to pay the monthly fee for not having health insurance.

Another important thing to note is that the end of a short term health plan is not considered as one of the special circumstances that permit special enrollment. If your short term health insurance coverage ends outside of an open enrollment period, you are required to wait until the enrollment period opens before getting coverage under Obama Care.

COBRA

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) offers continuation coverage for individuals in certain situations. Gaps generally covered by COBRA include:

  • Quitting or losing a job
  • Reduction in hours leading to a reduction in benefits
  • Job transition
  • Divorce
  • Death
  • Loss of status as dependent child
  • Other life events

Those who are eligible may be required to pay their entire insurance premium to keep their plan during the extended coverage period, which means that although COBRA allows individuals to continue their complete coverage, it can be costly. If you are in a position to choose between COBRA and a short term health plan, the pros and cons of each should be considered based on your health and financial situation.

HIPPA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) plans are special insurance plans that cover individuals with pre-existing conditions who are not eligible for other insurance plans. Enrolling in a short term health insurance plan, though not likely possible if you qualify for HIPPA, will make you ineligible for a HIPPA plan in most states.

Eligibility Team
Written by
Eligibility Team
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