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Temporary Short Term Health Insurance Information

What is a Temporary Short-Term heatlh insurance plan?
Short Term Medical is a temporary health insurance plan designed for people who are between permanent health plans. Short Term Medical can provide you with necessary health insurance coverage whether you are:
  • Between jobs
  • Waiting for employer group medical coverage
  • A recent college graduate
  • A temporary or seasonal employee
  • A dependent falling off their parent's health plan
  • A laid off, striking, or terminating employee
  • A laid off, striking, or terminating employee


What is the cost of Temporary Short-Term Health insurance?
Short term health plans often can be a one time expense. Shoppers have the availability to pay on a monthly basis or have a single payment option. Short term plans are often half the price of an individual health insurance policy.


What is the time required to get a short term insurance plan?
Unlike individual health insurance plans, that can often have 4-6 weeks of underwriting time, during which you are NOT covered, short term plans are usually in-force the next business day.


What are the coverage benefits of Temporary Short-Term health insurance plans?
A lot of consumer confusion can occur when investigating their individual or group health plan details such as deductible, co-pays, and stop losses. Short term plans consist of a deductible, payment options and length of coverage. Since the plan is not an HMO or PPO, you choose your own doctors and hospitals. Short term health plan highlights include the following:
  • Prescription drugs
  • Intensive care
  • Lab and X-ray
  • Ambulance service
  • Extension of benefits options such as certain disabilities


What are the disadvantages of purchasing a short term insurance plan?
Purchasing a short-term medical insurance plan will make you ineligible for any guaranteed issue individual health plans commonly referred to as HIPAA Plans. HIPAA plans are usually very expensive and are generally intended for people with pre-existing medical conditions who would have trouble getting health insurance otherwise. If you wish to maintain your eligibility for HIPAA plans, you SHOULD NOT purchase a short-term plan. Please consult your benefits advisor to discuss your rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other rights under state law.


Does Temporary Short-Term Health plans cover pre-existing conditions?
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. If you have an existing medical condition, you may want to research whether you can extend your current insurance. Employer-sponsored insurance can be extended under a government-regulated option commonly referred to as COBRA, which you should seriously consider if you have an existing medical condition.


What is the time required to get a short term insurance plan?
Unlike individual health insurance plans, that can often have 4-6 weeks of underwriting time, during which you are NOT covered, short term plans are usually in-force the next business day.


How long does a Temporary Short-Term heatlh insurance plan last?
Coverage is available for 30 days up to 12 months, depending on your particular needs and can most often be issued immediately (effective the day following receipt of your completed application).







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