Short Term Health Insurance

Short term medical insurance provides temporary benefits that help pay for healthcare when you don’t have major medical health insurance with minimum essential coverage under the ACA. Read “What is Short Term Health Insurance and What Does it Cover?”

You may want to choose short term coverage if you are between ACA plans due to:

• Being in an employer waiting period
• Missing the Obamacare Open Enrollment Period which runs Nov. 1 through Jan. 15 each year, depending on your state^[0]
• Ineligibility for a Special Enrollment Period under the ACA^[1]
• Aging off a parent’s health insurance plan upon turning age 26^[2]

Short term health insurance can be used to help pay for a range of unexpected healthcare treatments resulting from an illness or injury – from relatively minor events such as a doctor’s office visit due to illness, to major events that require hospitalization.

Examples of services that may be covered by a short term health plan include:

• Hospital room, board and general nursing care
• Emergency room visits
• Inpatient doctor visits
• Doctor office visits
• Surgical services
• Intensive or specialized care

You present your health insurance ID card at the time you receive treatment. Your healthcare provider submits a claim to your insurance company or third-party billing administrator, and that company then pays the eligible amount to the provider. You then receive a line-item Explanation of Benefits (EOB) for services rendered, and are invoiced for your portion of medical services rendered.

Until September 1, 2024, durations can range from 30 to 364 days, with extensions up to 36 months, depending on your state. Starting September 1, short-term health insurance is limited to a maximum of three months with one month extension availability.^[0]

There is no open enrollment period for short term health insurance. You can enroll year-round. If your application is accepted, you can choose to begin coverage as early as the next day.

Begin the enrollment process now by comparing multiple short term plans available in your area.

Whether or not short term medical insurance is right for you depends upon your life stage and circumstances, your personal healthcare needs and budget.

Read what you might want to consider when deciding whether or not short term health insurance is right for you, or call (888) 855-6837 to discuss your options with a licensed insurance agent.

There is no one-size-fits-all short term medical plan recommended for everyone. Short term health insurance comes in many designs to try to accommodate your unique healthcare needs and household budget. Just be aware that short term medical insurance includes limitations for benefits, pre-existing conditions and other exclusions that may not be covered, and is not considered minimum essential coverage under the ACA.

Learn more about what you might want to consider when choosing a short term plan, including monthly premium, deductible, coinsurance, total maximum coverage and more.

No, short term health insurance is not the same thing as Obamacare/ACA. STM plans do not qualify as minimum essential coverage under the ACA. Short term health insurance plans are not required to provide any of the ACA’s 10 essential health benefits, are not guaranteed issue (meaning, your application can be rejected because of pre-existing conditions) are not subject to other provisions mandated under the ACA, and may include a pre-existing condition exclusion provision.

Short term medical plans are temporary insurance options, not long-term health insurance needs. The monthly premium cost may be lower because these plans do not offer as many benefits and are not subject to ACA requirements. For example, they provide less coverage, like comprehensive preventive care benefits. STM plans are designed to provide limited benefits to help with medical treatments resulting from unexpected illnesses and injuries.

Comparison of Short Term Health Insurance and Obamacare

(Example from the Nebraska Department of Insurance)

Plan availability varies by state. You can get a quote now to find out what plans are available through IHC Specialty Benefits, Inc. on MyHealthInsurance.com.

You can buy short term medical coverage from a few sources, including websites such as MyHealthInsurance.com (operated by IHC Specialty Benefits, Inc.), a licensed insurance agent/broker and some health insurance companies. Learn more about “Who Sells Short Term Health Insurance.” 

No, short term medical plans are not required under federal law to cover pregnancy or maternity services.^[0] Talk with a licensed insurance agent to find out if any maternity services are covered by STM plans in your state.

No, short term medical plans do not cover pre-existing conditions.

They typically do not. That said, there are some plans that include a few basic preventive care services such as an annual wellness check and childhood immunizations. Read the exclusion and limitation details to learn what preventive services the plan you are considering may cover or exclude and talk with a licensed insurance agent to try to find a plan with preventive care benefits.

In many cases, short term insurance policies may include coverage for dependent children up to age 26, and child-only plans may be available. Call (888) 855-6837 to speak with a licensed insurance agent who can help you find a plan for your family.

Typically, no. Temporary coverage sold through IHC Specialty Benefits, Inc. on MyHealthInsurance.com is available to adults age 18 to 64.

Outpatient prescription drugs are not typically covered by short term medical policies. You may consider adding a prescription drug discount program.

These policies do not typically cover birth control. You may consider adding a prescription drug discount program.