Health Insurance

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What is short-term health insurance?

Many people who are between jobs for a period of 1-6 months or who have just graduated from college may not need to look any further than our short-term coverage options. On the other hand, if you are not planning to participate in health insurance coverage through an employer, the reliability and more extensive benefits offered through an individual and family health insurance plan might be a valuable investment for you. Short-term health insurance plans are intended to protect you for a period of time that is usually less than one year, and may be the best choice for people waiting for other health insurance to start. If you will need coverage for longer than a year, a standard, longer-term health insurance option like our individual and family health insurance plans might be a more viable option for you because of the higher levels of protection.

Since the very nature of a short-term health insurance plan is based around immediate need, the application process is generally much less complicated than that of longer-term health insurance. At the same time, short-term health insurance focuses mainly on catastrophic events and as a result, features such as preventive care, physicals, and immunizations are not included.

A very important consideration when purchasing a short-term health insurance plan is the fact that by doing so, you automatically become ineligible for any guaranteed issue individual health plans commonly referred to as Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Plans. Although HIPAA plans are usually very expensive, they make it possible for people with pre-existing medical conditions to obtain health insurance. If you wish to maintain your eligibility for HIPAA plans, you should not purchase a short-term plan. Please consult your benefits advisor to discuss the legal implications of HIPAA in your particular circumstances.

Additionally, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered by short-term health insurance plans. Although the definition of a pre-existing condition varies by state, the general definition is a condition or illness that has been diagnosed or treated within the past 3 to 5 years. If this applies to you, you may want to research whether you can extend your employer-sponsored insurance under a government-regulated option commonly referred to as the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act, or COBRA, which is almost always the best option for those with pre-existing medical conditions.

Why would I want coverage for a limited amount of time?

Many people who are between jobs for a period of 1-6 months, are on strike, have been laid off, or who have just graduated from college and know that they will only need coverage for a specific period of time may not need to look any further than our short-term coverage options.

What happens when I reach the end of my coverage period?

Most insurance companies that offer short-term medical coverage will allow you to re-apply one time at the end of your coverage term, if necessary. It is important to note that the re-application must be initiated by you and that your policy will not automatically be renewed.

What if I only need coverage for less than 30 days?

In a situation where you know exactly how long you will need coverage and that amount of time is less than 30 days, there are two main options that will work for you. Since most short-term health insurance plans will not offer coverage for less than 30 days, you can make one payment for the purchase of a 30-day coverage period or choose to pay for the premium monthly and then terminate the plan when you have obtained other coverage. An important consideration is that short-term plans do not offer partial refunds for unused coverage.

How soon can my coverage start?

Assuming the application and payment process goes smoothly, coverage for many short-term health insurance plans can start as soon as 24 hours after you submit your completed application. However, the only way to ensure fast processing is to make your first premium payment online with a credit card. While credit card billing is optional and you can obtain health insurance without using an online payment method, other forms of payment will take much longer to process. You can select a date up to 30 days in the future for the requested effective date of your health insurance plan.

When will I know if I qualify for short-term health insurance coverage?

In most cases, as soon as your application is complete, you will be informed whether or not you are eligible.

Will my credit card still get charged if I don't qualify for coverage?

Although you may be asked to provide payment information while completing your application, most insurance companies won't charge your account until you are approved.

Is there any obligation for me to buy an insurance plan once I have applied?

Absolutely not. Using Compare-Health-Quotes.com is a safe, easy method of finding the best health insurance plan for your individualized needs. You may cancel your plan at any time, even during the underwriting process and up to ten days after you actually receive your policy. Although you will provide payment information while completing your application, most insurance companies won't charge your account until you are approved. Some insurance companies may charge a minimal application fee, usually $25 or less, but you will be notified during the application process if this is the case. Due to insurance company policy, these fees are generally non-refundable.

Are dental and vision benefits included in a short-term plan?

Coverage of dental and vision are not features included in a short-term health insurance plan. Dental and vision benefits are often available as benefit riders with an individual and family or group health insurance plan. Short-term health insurance coverage is temporary and focuses mainly on catastrophic events. As a result, features such as dental, vision, preventive care, physicals, and immunizations are not included.

Should I pay monthly or make a single payment up front?

Usually, you are given two main options of payment for a short-term health insurance plan. Consider the following recommendations:

We recommend you select "Monthly", if you:

• Are unsure as to how long you will be needing coverage, or
• Would prefer not to make a lump sum, up-front payment

• Have an exact timeline of how long you will need coverage,
• Would prefer overall lower plan costs, and
• Are able to disburse the entire premium amount in a single payment

Selection of a single up-front payment will require that you specify the exact duration of your coverage (30-185 days). A major convenience of this choice is the fact that it will not be necessary for you to manually cancel your plan at the end of your coverage period. Should your circumstances change during this time and you either need coverage for a longer or shorter period of time, it will be necessary for you to either reapply at the end of the coverage period or forfeit the remainder of your pre-paid premium. Most insurance companies that offer short-term medical coverage will allow you to re-apply one time at the end of your coverage term, if necessary. Since many insurance companies only offer short term coverage with a single up-front payment, you may want to select this option rather than a monthly payment option to allow yourself a wider variety of plans from which to select.

What if I only want to insure my children?

Many insurance companies will not insure more than one child on a single policy. Although Compare-Health-Quotes.com does provide you the options of performing quote searches for one or multiple children, the broadest selection of plans will be shown if you search one child at a time. When getting quotes for your child only, enter the child's information in the "Applicant" or first row as you would your own. When searching for policies for multiple children, you will want to be sure that a child's information is not entered in the "Spouse" row. You are, of course, free to apply for each child separately or together, whichever best suits your needs.

What if I get a standard, longer-term insurance policy at a future date?

If you are approved for a standard, longer-term insurance policy during the coverage period of your short-term plan, once you receive written confirmation of that approval, it is important to cancel the short-term policy with your former insurance company.

Will purchasing a short-term insurance plan make it harder for me to get coverage in the future for a pre-existing medical condition?

A very important consideration when purchasing a short-term health insurance plan is the fact that by doing so, you automatically become ineligible for any guaranteed issue individual health plans commonly referred to as Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Plans. Although HIPAA plans are usually very expensive, they make it possible for people with pre-existing medical conditions to obtain health insurance. If you wish to maintain your eligibility for HIPAA plans, you should not purchase a short-term plan. Please consult your benefits advisor to discuss the legal implications of HIPAA in your particular circumstances.

How do I know you are finding me the lowest premiums?

Each state's Department of Insurance has all health insurance rates on file. Regardless of whether you purchase a plan through a local insurance agent, Compare-Health-Quotes.com, or directly from the insurance company, you will still pay the same monthly premium. Why not allow Compare-Health-Quotes.com to do the work for you to ensure that you get the lowest price possible?

Who do I contact if I need help?

Your personal health insurance advisor is able to walk you through this process from beginning to end. At Compare-Health-Quotes.com, we believe in providing you with stellar customer service to address all of your health insurance needs.

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