Short-term health insurance plans are meant to fill a temporary gap in your health insurance coverage. It is ideal for people who are not qualified for group health insurance. This insurance plan covers important benefits at an affordable price.
Short-term health insurance plans have low premiums, and they don’t offer the comprehensive coverage that a regular health insurance plan has, which can lead to large out-of-pocket costs if you need medical attention. In this blog post, I will provide the best temporary health insurance provider.
4 Best Short-Term Health Insurance Providers
Below are some of the best short-term health insurance providers.
1. Pivot Health
Pivot Health is one of the best short-term health insurance providers out there, as it provides discounts on prescription drugs and 15% to 30% off frames, contact lenses, and eye exams.
The deductibles range from $1,000 to $10,000, with maximum annual limits of $100,000 to a million dollars. The out-of-wallet cost for its co-insurance ranges from $3,000 to $10,000.
The exclusions include pre-existing conditions, routine physical exams, immunizations, and injuries from extreme sports. Pivot Health has online tools to assist you in prioritizing your insurance needs, and this insurance company also provides a wide array of available features.
2. Everest
The Everest Flex Term has one of the cheapest health insurance plans; however, it doesn’t provide the coverage you need. Flex Term provides a wide array of coverage options with deductibles that range from $1,000 to $10,000.
The co-insurance options range from 0% to 50%, with up to $1.5 million in maximum coverage limits. If you want to pay a higher premium, then you can enjoy low out-of-pocket costs with lower co-insurance and deductible amounts.
People from the ages of 18 to 64 can apply for health insurance with this company. Most of their insurance plans provide up to a year of coverage; however, you can cancel it at any time without paying a penalty.
Everest Flex Term also covers sickness and wellness visits, inpatient and outpatient services, hospital and emergency room care, transplant benefits, and laboratory and X-ray diagnostics.
3. UnitedHealthcare
If you are on a budget, then the Value plan has cheaper monthly premiums. It comes with 30% co-insurance and a $10,000 out-of-pocket maximum. This health insurance company offers short-term health insurance for more than 30 years and is also available in 25 states.
UnitedHealthcare offers insurance policies through TriTerm Medical Insurance. It also offers extended policies, which vary from 1 to 12 months, with the option to renew for up to 36 months.
The policies also include network coverage with over 1.5 million physicians and over 7,000 hospitals and medical facilities with a specific waiting period. There are also several preventative care options and a copay select plan, which includes a $50 copay.
This insurance company also offers prescription coverage and limited coverage for rehabilitation, home health care, and hospice.
4. Allstate Health
Allstate’s short-term medical plans are typically more expensive than those of other companies when you are comparing the same level of insurance coverage.
Cheap plans are available; however, these bargain plans have poor benefits. The insurance plan uses the Aetna PPO network, which gives you an ideal choice of doctors.
The coverage for preventive care is typically included, and urgent care appointments can be very cheap because you will pay a lower rate even if you have not met your deductible.
Who Can Get Short-Term Health Insurance?
You can apply for short-term coverage if you live in a state that offers temporary health insurance plans. After applying for short-term health insurance coverage, the application includes health-related questions to find out the insurance company’s risk of insuring you.
Should your answers show some existing health conditions, then this means that you wouldn’t be approved. If you are approved for health insurance and file a claim for health benefits, the insurance provider will check your health history. If they find out that you have a pre-existing condition, the insurance company could deny your claim and terminate your policy.
What Does Short-Term Health Insurance Cover?
Short-term health insurance plans don’t comply with federal laws, and the coverage can vary from plan to plan. The short-term health policies cover:
- Preventive care.
- Doctor’s office visit.
- Urgent care services.
- Emergency room visits.
It is very essential to compare short-term plans and read the policy carefully to know what the short-term insurance covers so that you can find a plan that suits your needs.
How Do You Qualify for Short-Term Health Insurance?
Only people living in states that offer limited-duration plans can apply. You also have to be medically qualified for temporary health insurance coverage.
Although people who apply for health insurance plans can apply for short-term health insurance during an open enrollment period, you can apply for short-term health coverage anytime you want.
How to Find the Best Short-Term Health Insurance For Your Needs
When you are shopping for the best temporary health insurance, you can consider certain tips, such as:
- Consider the plan network: If you want to keep your doctor or have a particular doctor or hospital in mind for treatment, then you can check to see if they are in the provider’s plan network.
- Know your coverage needs: Knowing the coverage you need will make it a lot easier to compare short-term health insurance plans.
- Compare plan details: Shop around and compare the coverage, deductibles, costs, and exclusions of different short-term plans to make sure that they suit your needs.
- Know the plan’s limitations: Most short-term plans won’t cover any pre-existing medical conditions and might have other exclusions that are different from plan to plan.
- Research insurance companies: Search for reputable providers with positive customer reviews. Make sure that the company has excellent financial strength ratings, which show a solid ability to pay claims.
These are the things that you should consider to be able to find the best temporary health insurance that suits your needs.
How Much Does Short-Term Health Insurance Cost?
The cost of your short-term health insurance will be based on several factors, such as your age, the type of service the plan offers, and the coverage details you choose, such as deductible, total policy coverage, and coinsurance.
Make sure that you read the fine print of a temporary health plan before buying it to know what is covered and what isn’t.
