How Short-Term Health Insurance Can Benefit You

You may find yourself in a bit of a sticky situation health insurance-wise.

Maybe you’ve lost your job and don’t have a new one yet, so you’re without coverage.

Or, perhaps you are no longer eligible to be on your parents’ plan and you don’t know exactly what you’re going to do.

The solution may be short-term health insurance.

If you’re not sure how it works or if it’s even the right choice for you, read on!

Understanding short-term health

The first thing you need to know is that this type of coverage isn’t designed for the long haul.

What it is for is bridging gaps in coverage that you may experience in a transitional period of your life.

There are several benefits you can take advantage of including:

• Coverage kicks in quickly. It may even be as soon as the day after you complete your application.

• Deductible options. You have choices! It shouldn’t be difficult for you and your independent insurance agent to find one that fits into your budget.

• No-penalty cancellation. When you’re ready to drop the coverage, you won’t be penalized and may even receive a refund on your unused premium amount.
• Lower premiums. Short-term health insurance usually offers lower-cost premiums as compared to ACA plans.

In addition to the benefits, there are a few downsides, like:

• Being denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition.
• Answering a copious amount of questions in order to apply for coverage.
• Having no coverage requirements.  

It’s important to note that short-term health insurance will not fulfill your requirement under the Affordable Care Act.

As a result, you could still face penalties even if you were covered by short-term health insurance.

Who needs short-term coverage?

It’s a short-term solution, so there are certain scenarios in which you’d opt for this type of coverage.

You may seek short-term health insurance if:

• You’re between jobs.
• You have a new job and your employer-sponsored health care hasn’t kicked in yet.
• You’re waiting until you’re eligible for Medicare.
• You don’t have health insurance and you aren’t in an open enrollment period.

Anyone in these situations can be stressful and unnerving! This is especially true if you have little ones who are frequent visitors to the doctor’s office!

Short-term health insurance coverage can give you some peace of mind in a trying period.

Consider health insurance options

As with any kind of insurance coverage, each provider will have their own particular plan options.

If you’re in the market for short-term coverage, look for one that has a deductible that you can afford should you or a family member face a health catastrophe.

You should also get the advice of an independent insurance agent who can help you determine exactly what you need.

With this type of insurance, it’s important to make sure all your bases are covered!

How much coverage should you have?

Because short-term health insurance is brief, your options for coverage are more narrow.

Do your best to figure out what you think your needs will be in the near future.  

As you’re looking ahead, keep in mind that this coverage isn’t going to be forever!

A short-term but worthwhile solution

When you find yourself in a situation in which you need coverage for you and your family for a brief time, short-term health insurance may be the lifesaver you need.

You’re not locked into anything, yet your family is covered in the event your son breaks his arm or your daughter needs stitches!

Walking into the unknown without a safety net is scary.

Check into short-term health insurance to see if can provide you with some much-needed peace of mind.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation when you could have used temporary health insurance?