Short Term Health Insurance

Affordable short-term or temporary health insurance coverage can protect you from expensive medical bills in the event of an illness or injury while you are without a permanent plan. Though short-term policies are handled somewhat differently, getting cheap online health insurance quotes for temporary health insurance is just as important and no different than collecting insurance quotes on a renewable health coverage plan.

It’s easy to get an instant medical insurance quote online using the search tool from TheHealthInsuranceQuotes.com. Once you compare and find a cheap health insurance quote for a policy you like and fill out a satisfactory application, many health insurance carriers will get you on a short term health plan by the very next day.

Reasons You Might Need A Short-Term Health Insurance Plan

As long as someone is not eligible for Medicare, is between the ages of 2 and 65, is in good health and has never been turned down for health insurance coverage, he or she is eligible to be covered by a short-term health insurance plan. Just because you are eligible, however, does not mean you actually need the coverage.

There are several good reasons to obtain coverage under a temporary health plan, one of which is having a part-time or temporary employee status. People between jobs are also provided great benefits by purchasing short-term insurance. Many individuals find this option to be more cost effective than COBRA, especially if they are in good health with no pre-existing conditions. Even many full-time employees who are on strike will find a short-term policy is more that suitable for their needs.

College graduates who are no longer on their parents’ policy but are in pursuit of a good job with health insurance benefits will also find short-term coverage useful in the meantime. Even when they get a job, many employers have a 30 to 90 day waiting period before employer health benefits begin, requiring temporary coverage to fill the gap.

Additionally, temporary coverage would be a good bet for anyone who has been discharged from the military and is not receiving retirement, disability or VA benefits. Anyone who plans to leave the country should also look in to a short-term traveler’s insurance policy to cover anything that might happen while they are far from home.

Short-Term Health Insurance Quote: How Temporary Health Insurance Works

Short-term health insurance policies tend to function a lot like a typical indemnity plan, while some follow a preferred provider organization (PPO) plan. A short-term indemnity plan allows you to choose your own doctor or medical facility and pays by reimbursement for upfront costs charged to you.

Depending on your plan and deductible, reimbursement may cover some portion up to the full amount of medical bills. Excluding emergency care, any medical attention you need must be pre-authorized by the health insurance company – the insurance carrier must grant permission before you receive care in order to ensure you will be reimbursed for it.

Temporary health insurance policies exclude preventative care and exams, routine doctor visits, maternity, dental or vision care, work-related injuries, routine prescription medications such as those for thyroid problems or asthma, and pre-existing conditions over the past three years. Short-term health insurance does cover emergency services, x-rays, diagnostic testing, surgery, hospitalization, medications related to any aforementioned care as well as follow-up care with certain limitations and conditions.

A typical temporary health insurance plan will last between 30 and 180 days. Some of these types of health insurance policies can be renewed up to 36 months. A downside to the short-term health plan is that the insurance company may consider any claims filed to be due to a pre-existing condition, making it difficult to renew or get a new policy.

Because the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) does not apply to short-term health insurance policies, no insurance company is obligated to guarantee anyone a policy, an insurance plan renewal or to cover someone with a pre-existing condition, whether or not the patient is eligible for a pre-existing coverage waiver.

Short Term Health Insurance Quotes

If you’re looking for the best, affordable short term health insurance coverage, your first step is using the easy search tool at the top of the page at TheHealthInsuranceQuotes.com. All you need is your ZIP code to start researching the top medical insurance companies in your area and get cheap policy quotes online for the best health plans for your medical and budget needs.