Short Term Health Insurance

Short Term health insurance offers you just the kind of flexible, fast coverage you need for those dynamic times of change in your life.

Short-term medical insurance is not guaranteed-issue and is a temporary health insurance plan designed for people who are without health insurance and are waiting for longer term, major medical insurance coverage.

Short Term health insurance plans do not meet the minimum essential coverage requirements under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, and may result in a tax penalty. They are designed solely to provide temporary health care insurance during unexpected coverage gaps.

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 purchase:

ACA health plans are guaranteed issue, meaning you cannot be denied coverage based on pre-existing conditions
Short Term insurance plans are not guaranteed issue, do not cover pre-existing 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 new-born 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.

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Short Term Health Insurance Insights

Coverage Gaps

Short-term health insurance is not considered minimum essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). If a policy ends outside the ACA open enrollment period (November 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025, for 2025 coverage), you cannot switch to an ACA-compliant plan unless you experience a qualifying life event (e.g., job loss). Termination of a short-term plan itself does not qualify for a special enrollment period.

Pre-Existing Conditions

Unlike ACA-compliant plans, short-term health insurance typically allows medical underwriting, meaning insurers can deny coverage or exclude pre-existing conditions. This makes it less viable for individuals with ongoing health needs but appealing for healthy individuals seeking temporary coverage.

Cost and Benefits Trade-Off

Short-term plans generally have lower premiums than ACA plans—averaging around $115 per month for individuals—but come with higher deductibles (often $5,000 or more) and limited benefits. They are not required to cover the ACA’s 10 essential health benefits, such as maternity care, mental health services, or prescription drugs (though some plans may offer limited drug coverage).

Short Term Health Insurance FAQs

Who typically buys short-term health insurance?

It’s often chosen by healthy individuals needing temporary coverage—e.g., between jobs, waiting for employer insurance to start (typically 30-90 days), or missing ACA enrollment. It’s less suitable for those with chronic conditions due to coverage gaps.

What happens if I get sick after my short-term plan ends?

You’re responsible for all costs unless you secure new coverage. If it’s outside ACA open enrollment, you’ll need a qualifying life event (like marriage or job loss) to enroll in an ACA plan—ending a short-term plan doesn’t count.

What doesn’t short-term health insurance cover?

It’s not required to cover the ACA’s 10 essential health benefits, so many plans exclude maternity care, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and often limit prescription drugs. Coverage varies by plan, but benefits are typically narrower than ACA plans.

Does short-term health insurance satisfy the ACA individual mandate?

No, it’s not considered minimum essential coverage under the ACA. However, since the federal penalty for lacking coverage was reduced to $0 in 2019, this is no longer a financial concern, though it may affect state-level mandates (e.g., in Massachusetts or New Jersey).

Does short-term health insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

No, most short-term plans do not cover pre-existing conditions. Insurers can use medical underwriting to deny coverage or exclude conditions you’ve had in the past (typically looking back 5 years), unlike ACA-compliant plans, which must cover them.