The 411 on Short Term Plans

If you have started a new job and are waiting for your health care coverage benefit to kick in—this wait can sometimes be as long as six months—a short-term medical plan may be right for you. Short-term insurance policies (sometimes called “temporary health plans”) can protect you when you are between traditional health insurance policies.

With low premiums and high deductibles, short-term health insurance policies are typically designed to be more of a low-cost solution to protect you in the event of a major injury or illness, rather than a comprehensive medical insurance plan. Short-term health insurance offers limited benefits and usually has strict eligibility requirements to qualify. Additionally, short-term health insurance lives up to its name: short-term. While some plans offer health coverage for up to a year, most short-term policies offer between one month and six months of coverage. So if you get injured and need coverage beyond the length of your policy, you may be out of luck.

Short Term Plans Are Not For Everyone

WARNING: We do not recommend short-term plans for most of our customers. We only recommend short-term plans for our clients who know that they will be getting full insurance coverage in the near-term through another source. Before you select a short-term plan, make sure you compare it with a traditional individual plan. Many traditional plans do not require a long-term commitment and often cost less than short-term plans.