What is the best short term health insurance

Short term health insurance, underwritten by Golden Rule Insurance Company, is a flexible health insurance coverage solution when you need coverage for a period of transition in your life.

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Short term insurance may be for you if you're:

• Unable to apply for Affordable Care Act (ACA), also called Obamacare, coverage because you missed Open Enrollment and you don't qualify for Special Enrollment
• Waiting for your ACA coverage to start
• Looking for coverage to bridge you to Medicare
• Turning 26 and coming off your parent's insurance
• Between jobs or waiting for benefits to begin at your new job
• Healthy and under 65

For these situations and many others, Short term health insurance, also called temporary health insurance or term health insurance, might be right for you.  It can fill that gap in coverage until you can choose a longer term solution.

Short term health insurance offers you just the kind of flexible, fast coverage you need for those dynamic times of change in your life. With short term medical plans1 you can:

• Get covered fast, as soon as the day after application
• Pick your deductible amount from several options
• Pick your length of coverage, 1 to nearly 12 months in some states2
• Drop coverage with no penalty if a more permanent health insurance option comes along
• You may be able to apply for another short term health insurance plan when the first one finishes, if needed3
• Access an extensive network of health care professionals, with 1.4 million physicians and other health care professionals and approximately 6,500 hospitals and other facilities4
• Get generally lower premiums than with ACA health insurance plans

With short term health insurance you are not buying an ACA health plan. That means you need to keep a few things in mind as you plan your coverage needs:

• ACA health plans are guaranteed issue, meaning you cannot be denied coverage based on preexisting conditions
• Short term insurance plans are not guaranteed issue, do not cover preexisting conditions, and you must answer a series of medical questions to apply for coverage
• ACA health plans are required to cover 10 essential health benefits, including maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance abuse disorder services
• Short term insurance plans do not have coverage requirements, so plans vary in what they cover. Check your plan details carefully

So, it’s true that you may save money by choosing short term health insurance. Just be sure you know what you are buying, and that it’s a good choice for you. For the right situation, short term insurance plans can definitely provide fast, flexible, temporary health insurance coverage that fits your needs.

Open video transcript Close video transcript

A somewhat emotional piano tune plays. A blue ribbon flows across the screen and morphs into the UnitedHealthcare logo, and the words “Golden Rule Insurance Co.” appear under it. Under that, the words “Short Term Medical Plans” appears. A bright young woman’s voice comes in.

Voiceover: What do you do when you’re in a time of transition and need health coverage quick?

An airplane with a banner floating behind it appears. The banner reads: “Need health coverage quick?”

Voiceover: Maybe you’ve decided to turn your side hustle into your full-time gig.

An animated “open” sign swings back and forth.

Voiceover: Or you’re coming off your parents' insurance for the first time.

An animated calendar graphic with a coffee mug and a plant appears.

Voiceover: UnitedHealthcare branded Short Term Medical plans are designed for situations like yours,

An animated graphic of a hand holding a UnitedHealthcare insurance card appears next to the words “Designed for situations like yours”

Voiceover: and can provide flexible, budget-friendly coverage that lasts as long as you need,

A piggy bank graphic appears above the words: “flexible, budget-friendly coverage”

Voiceover: from one month to just under a year in some states.

A calendar graphic appears between the words “One month” and “One year”. The music becomes more upbeat and orchestral.

Voiceover: Apply for coverage starting as soon as tomorrow for things like doctor visits, ER visits, hospital stays, labs and even prescriptions with many plans.

Graphics that correspond to each covered item appear as they’re listed.

Voiceover: Plus, get access to the UnitedHealthcare nationwide network of doctors and hospitals

An animated network graphic appears with various health care icons of different sizes connected with lines.

Voiceover: that makes health care available at lower costs.

An animated piggy bank graphic appears with a coin dropped into it.

Voiceover: Short Term Medical plans do not cover preexisting conditions, so keep that in mind when you apply.

A heart graphic appears above the words “Preexisting conditions are not covered”.

Voiceover: Give the uncertain period in your life more certainty with a UnitedHealthcare branded Short Term Medical plan.

The animated airplane graphic appears again, this time towing a banner that reads “Find a Short Term Medical Plan”

Voiceover: Questions? Go to U-H-One.com or call your local health insurance broker.

A final title screen appears with the words “UnitedHealthcare” and “Golden Rule Insurance Co.” next to the UnitedHealthcare logo in the upper left corner. The words “Questions? Go to UHOne.com or call your local health insurance broker” appear in the middle of the screen, to the left of two colorful text bubble graphics. The following words are in fine print at the bottom of the screen: “Underwritten by Golden Rule Insurance Company, a UnitedHealthcare Company. This policy has exclusions, limitation, reduction of benefits, terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For costs and complete details of the coverage, call or write your insurance agent or the company. Short term health insurance plans do not meet all federal requirements to qualify as “Minimum Essential Coverage” for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”). Short term health insurance is medically underwritten and does not cover preexisting conditions. Product availability varies by state. 48283-G-0322”

The UnitedHealthcare commitment to the short term health insurance option hasn’t just come about with recent shifts in the health insurance market. Golden Rule Insurance Company, which became a part of UnitedHealthcare in 2003 and still underwrites the short term medical insurance product today, has been offering short term insurance plans for over 30 years.

Check for plans in your state

Note: This coverage is not “minimum essential coverage” as defined by the ACA.

The federal tax payment for not having minimum essential coverage no longer applies, but tax penalties may still exist at the state level. Consult your tax advisor for more information.