Short Term Health Insurance
Plan Considerations

Short term health insurance plans are temporary medical insurance that provide coverage for a period of a minimum of 30 days to a maximum of one year during which you and/or your family are without comprehensive major medical coverage. It’s designed to offer simple, fast and affordable coverage for unexpected illnesses or accidents.

Who Needs It?

People who are:

* Between jobs or laid off;

* Seeking a lower cost alternative to COBRA;

* A recent college graduate seeking employment;

* Hired but waiting to qualify for employer-sponsored coverage;

* Temporary, seasonal or part-time workers;

* Employees who currently have no access to employer or group insurance;

* Uninsured seniors who are waiting to qualify for Medicare.

Who’s Eligible?

People who are :

* Healthy and between the ages of 30 days and 64 years, 11 months;

* Dependent children through age 18, or through age 24 if full-time students, may be covered under their parent’s plan;

* Foreign residents living in the US for at least one year at time of enrollment. Must have proof of appropriate documentation;

Typical Short Term Plan Highlights:

* Coverage as early as next day after signed application;

* Freedom to choose your own doctors, hospitals and service providers;

* Prescription drug coverage;

* In-hospital and out-patient benefits;

* Extended coverage beyond policy term expiration if hospitalized;

Typical Short Term Plan Features:

Doctor Visits: Covered for unexpected illness and injury, subject to deductible and coinsurance. Discounts for using network doctors, or use your regular doctor;

Hospital Benefits: Inpatient and outpatient services covered, subject to deductible and coinsurance. Discounts for using network facilities;

Emergency Room Services: Covered, subject to deductible and coinsurance;

Ambulance: Covered service to nearest hospital;

Outpatient Surgery: Covered, subject to deductible and coinsurance;

X-Ray and Labs: Covered, subject to deductible and coinsurance;

Transplant Benefits: May be covered up to about $100,000 limit;

Prescription Drug Benefits: Covered, subject to deductible and coinsurance. May include drug discount card for instant savings;

Deductible Choices: Typically, $500 or $1,000 or $2,500;

Coinsurance: 80% paid by insurer. 20% paid by insured up to Maximum-out-of -Pocket limit for insured;

Lifetime Maximum Benefit: $2 Million maximum amount plan will pay toward covered medical bills per covered person.

Typical Exclusions:

* Pre-existing (past five years) conditions, including any not disclosed or inquired about at enrollment;

* Routine care, examinations or immunizations;

* Illness or injury that is self-inflicted or caused while engaged in a felony or under the influence of alcohol or drugs or in military service or in a hazardous occupation;

* Vision or dental treatments, unless added by option;

* Maternity, genetics, fertility treatment or care or foot care;

* Custodial care or private nursing;

* Cosmetic, experimental, investigative or unnecessary medical treatment;

* Treatment of mental illness or drug abuse;

* Expenses incurred outside US or Canada;

* Covered charges in excess of reasonable and customary amounts.

Customizing Your Own Short Term Health Plan:

Your temporary health insurance plan design is based on three primary factors – the deductible amount, the length of time you need coverage and the coinsurance.

Deductible: A lower deductible means a higher premium but less out-of-pocket initially if you get ill or injured. A higher deductible would have the opposite effect. Your best value is to insure against the shock loss you could not afford, but to pay the low expenses you could afford.;

Term Length: If you know before application how long you will need coverage, you might get a premium discount by making a single upfront payment for that term length. If you don’t know the term length you will need, take the 12 month term and pay monthly. Then, simply terminate the plan and stop paying when you have permanent coverage. When your plan expires for the term you have chosen, benefits for a covered illness or injury may continue, subject to plan terms. At plan expiration, you may apply for another temporary plan, but any illness or injury incurred and covered under the first plan would be excluded under the second plan, since preexisting conditions are not covered for each individual term;

Coinsurance: A usual coinsurance factor of 80% / 20% up to a usual maximum-out-of-pocket limit of $10,000 paid by insured. May have alternatives;

Commencement of Coverage:

Your short term plan coverage will usually begin at 12:01 AM on the approved effective date, provided the enrollment form is complete, meets insurer requirements for acceptance, and the initial premium has been paid. Typically, the effective beginning date must be not more than 45 days after application.

To secure a short-term health plan quote, go to the Individual Quote Guide or the Family Quote Guide, as appropriate.

If you enroll in a short term health insurance plan, you can also enroll in our Fitness Culture Plan. Go to the Personal Fitness Plan Quote Request Page. Complete and send us your quote requests for a quick response.

For information on our Fitness Culture Program, go to Fitness Culture.

For information on Medical Self Care Prevention, go to Medical Self Care Prevention.

For information on Medical Self Care Affairs Management, go to Affairs Management.

For information on Patient Care Services, go to Patient Care Plan.

If you have questions or need additional information, go to our Contact Us Page.

WARNING: NEVER CANCEL YOUR CURRENT INSURANCE UNTIL REPLACEMENT COVERAGE IS APPROVED AND IN PLACE.

To get a Fitness Plan Proposal and a Short Term Health Insurance Plan quote, go to Fitness Plan Request and the Health Plan Quote Guide.