Short-term health insurance, for the gap between plans
Between jobs, waiting on an employer plan, or past open enrollment? A short-term plan can cover unexpected illness and injury for a limited time, often starting within days. It is not ACA coverage, though, and it is not the right fit for everyone. Here is how to tell.
What a short-term plan is, and what it is not
Short-term health insurance is temporary medical coverage built to bridge a gap. It can pay for doctor visits, emergencies and hospital stays while you are between other coverage. It plays by different rules than a Marketplace plan, and those differences matter before you buy.
| Short-term plan | Marketplace (ACA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Can you be turned down? | Yes, it is medically underwritten | No, acceptance is guaranteed in an enrollment window |
| Pre-existing conditions | Usually excluded | Covered |
| Maternity, mental health, prescriptions | Often limited or not covered | Required essential health benefits |
| Premium tax credits | Never | Available if you qualify |
| When you can enroll | Generally any time | Open enrollment or a qualifying life event |
| How long it lasts | Limited, set by federal and state rules | A full plan year, renewable |
| How fast it starts | Often within days of approval | Usually the first of the following month |
General product-category behavior. Terms vary by carrier and state, and your policy documents govern.
When a short-term plan makes sense
Worth a look if you are:
- Between jobs and expecting new employer coverage to start soon.
- Waiting out a new employer's benefits waiting period.
- Past open enrollment with no qualifying life event, and healthy.
- A few months away from Medicare or another plan and need a bridge.
Look at other options first if you:
- Have an ongoing health condition or take regular prescriptions.
- Are pregnant or planning to be.
- Qualify for a premium tax credit, which can make a full ACA plan cost less.
- Just lost job-based coverage and are still inside your 60-day special enrollment window.
- Need coverage you can keep long term.
How long a short-term plan can last
This is the part that changes the most. Federal rules on how long a short-term plan can run, and whether it can be renewed, have been rewritten several times since 2018, and federal agencies have said they are revisiting them again. States add their own limits on top, and in some states short-term plans are not sold at all.
So we do not quote a duration from a blog post. We check what carriers actually offer in your state, and for how long, before you apply.
Need coverage for the gap?
Tell us your ZIP, age and when your next coverage starts. We will show you short-term options next to your Marketplace and private-plan numbers.
Get my quoteHow we handle it
We are an independent brokerage, so we are not tied to one carrier or one type of plan. The process:
- We check your Marketplace and subsidy number first, so you know what full ACA coverage would cost.
- If short-term fits your situation, we compare the plans sold in your state and walk you through the health questions before anything is submitted.
- You see the options side by side, with what each one leaves out stated plainly, and you choose.
- Nothing gets cancelled until your new coverage is in force.
Carriers pay our commission, so the comparison costs you nothing.
Short-term health insurance: common questions
What is short-term health insurance?
A short-term health plan is temporary medical coverage meant to bridge a gap, for example between jobs or until an employer plan or Medicare starts. It is not ACA-compliant coverage: it is medically underwritten, it can exclude pre-existing conditions, and it does not have to cover all of the ACA's essential health benefits.
Does short-term health insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Generally no. Short-term plans can ask health questions, decline an application, and exclude conditions you had before the policy started. If you have an ongoing condition, an ACA Marketplace plan or COBRA is usually the safer choice.
Can I use a subsidy on a short-term plan?
No. Premium tax credits apply only to Marketplace plans. If you qualify for a credit, a full ACA plan may cost you less than a short-term plan once the credit is applied, so we check that number first.
How fast can short-term coverage start?
Often within days of approval, depending on the carrier and your state. That speed is one of the main reasons people use these plans.
Is short-term health insurance available in my state?
Not everywhere. Federal rules on how long these plans can last have changed several times in recent years, and states add their own limits. Some states do not allow short-term plans at all. We confirm what is actually sold in your state before you apply.
Is a short-term plan better than COBRA?
It depends on your health and budget. COBRA keeps your exact employer plan, including coverage for existing conditions, but you pay the full premium plus up to a 2% fee. A short-term plan can cost less if you are healthy, but it covers less and can turn you down.
If I buy a short-term plan, can I still get an ACA plan later?
Losing job-based coverage usually opens a 60-day special enrollment window for the Marketplace, so decide inside that window if you can. A short-term plan does not count as qualifying coverage, so when it ends, that by itself does not open a new enrollment window.
Get covered for the gap
Free, no obligation. A licensed advisor will compare short-term, Marketplace and private options for you.
Get my quote