More Frequently Asked Questions >>  

How long can I be covered?


 You can get coverage for as few as 30 days or as many as 365* days, depending on the state you live in. 

* State reform legislation may vary; consult your state for specific rights and requirements.

 

What happens at the end of my coverage?


 Short Term Medical insurance is temporary and ends at the end of the term.  Based on how you apply and what company you apply with, your end date can be anywhere from 30-365 days.

 

Most short term medical insurance companies will allow you to reapply for additional months (days) of coverage unless you have had claims during the term.

 

Are there co-pays with short term medical insurance?

 

No, short term medical plans do not have co-pays. 

 

Do I have to pick a primary doctor, PPO, or HMO network?

 

Short term medical plans allow you to go to any licensed physician. 

 

Are Short Term Medical plans affected by the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996?


 No. Under HIPAA, short term, limited duration policies are generally exempt from this legislation. This means that when issuing a Short Term Medical policy, insurance carriers do not have to: guarantee renewability, guarantee issue or waive the pre-existing condition limitation for federally eligible individuals.*

Is a Short Term Medical plan considered "creditable coverage" under HIPAA?


Under HIPAA, Short Term Medical coverage is generally considered creditable coverage to help satisfy any pre-existing condition period.* Previous creditable coverage includes:

  • A group health plan
  • Health insurance coverage
  • Part A or Part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (Medicare)
  • Title XIX of the Social Security Act, other than coverage consisting solely of benefits under section 1928 (Medicaid)
  • Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code (Champus)
  • A medical care program of the Indian Health Service or of a tribal organization
  • A state health benefits risk pool
  • A health plan offered under chapter 89 of title 5, United States code (Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan)
  • A public health plan (as defined in regulations)
  • A health benefit plan under section 5(e) of the Peace Corps Act
  • SCHIP:  Foreign national health plans

* State reform legislation may vary; consult your state for specific rights and requirements.

 

What is short term health insurance?

 

No one is immune to accidents.  Accidents happen and you want to make sure you and your family are covered.

 

Short term health insurance plans provide you with coverage for a limited period of time, and may be an ideal solution for those between jobs, an alternative to COBRA, temporary worker, or those waiting for other health insurance to start. Typically, short-term plans offer coverage up to six months, although some plans may offer coverage up to 12 months. If you need coverage for longer than 12 months you should research a permanent health insurance plan.  However you will need a short term health plan to cover you for the couple of months that it takes to underwrite a permanent plan.

 

The application process for short-term health insurance is extremely simple and can be done completely online in typically less than 5 minutes. Short-term health insurance plans are designed to protect against unforeseen accidents or illnesses, rather than to provide comprehensive coverage, and, as such, typically do not include coverage for preventive care, physicals, immunizations, dental or vision care.

  

Short-term health insurance plans 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 1 to 5 years (policies vary based on company).

 

How soon can my coverage start?

 

Coverage can start tomorrow.  If you and your family qualify (answer the medical questions online to see if you qualify), you can have “next day” coverage starting at 12:01 A.M. 

 

Coverage can last up to 12 months (some plans only allow up to 6 months of coverage).

 

How can I insure just my children?

 

Typically, children alone can apply and are to use the oldest child as the primary insured and then enter the number of remaining children in the child (# of children) quote section.  A parent/guardian must sign and pay for the application.