What is short-term health insurance?

If you are searching for an affordable alternative to traditional health insurance in California, you may be interested in short-term health insurance. Short term-health insurance provides basic health coverage for a comparatively low dollar amount, often a mere fraction of what you might pay for traditional health insurance. Short-term policies can prevent a lapse in coverage or provide an extra level of coverage for those with limited benefits under an employee health insurance plan.

Short-term health insurance policies are often capped at six to 12 months, although you may be able to opt for a new policy once your policy has expired. They provide coverage for medical emergencies and generally cover emergency-related health care visits and procedures. Prescriptions, elective care and procedures, and maternity benefits are usually excluded. As with other health policies, your monthly premium amount will often be proportionate to your deductible: A higher deductible will result in a lower monthly premium.

Most plans of this nature are similar to indemnity plans. You will have the freedom of seeing any health care provider you wish, but you may be required to have pre-certification for some procedures or hospitalizations. Some even cover preventative care. A short-term health care plan can also provide you with a Certificate of Credible Coverage, which may prevent you from being excluded from other policies due to a pre-existing condition.

Those who are young and relatively healthy may prefer the ease and affordability of short-term health insurance. Individuals who are unemployed may enjoy the security of a short-term policy while they are in between jobs. Self-employed individuals may prefer to sign up for a short-term policy rather than lock themselves into a longer, more expensive personal health insurance policy.

Short-term health insurance may not be appropriate for everyone, however. If you plan to use maternity benefits, visit your doctor frequently, or regularly use prescription medications, a traditional health plan may be a better, more affordable choice. An experienced health insurance agent can help you weigh your options and choose the one that’s right for you.

 

 

Source: Los Angeles Health Care

Back to Blog