Short-Term Medical
Temporary medical insurance for a gap, like waiting for employer coverage, missing Open Enrollment, or retiring a few months before Medicare.
Short-Term Medical at a Glance
Short-term medical is health insurance meant to bridge a gap. It covers doctor visits, hospital stays and other medical care for a set period, then ends. Premiums are often lower than Marketplace plans for healthy people.
You qualify by answering health questions, and the plan can decline you. It does not have to follow the Affordable Care Act's rules, so pre-existing conditions and some benefits are usually left out.
How It Works
Apply any time
There is no enrollment window. Answer a few health questions and coverage can start within days if you are approved.
Pay a deductible, then coinsurance
Like major medical, you pay up to a deductible, then share costs until you reach the plan's out-of-pocket limit.
Coverage ends on a set date
The plan runs for the term you pick. When it ends, you move to your next coverage, such as an employer plan or Medicare.
Good For
- Healthy people between jobs or waiting on a new plan
- Missing Open Enrollment without a Special Enrollment Period
- A short bridge to Medicare or employer coverage
Watch For
- Pre-existing conditions are usually not covered
- Not ACA-compliant: benefits like maternity or mental health may be left out
- How long a plan can last depends on federal and state rules
Important information
Short-term medical plans are not comprehensive health insurance and do not meet the Affordable Care Act's requirements for minimum essential coverage. They may exclude pre-existing conditions and benefits that Marketplace plans must cover. How long a plan can last, and whether it can be renewed, depends on federal and state rules.
Other Options to Compare
See how every option stacks up on our health insurance comparison.
ACA Marketplace
Comprehensive health insurance that covers pre-existing conditions, with income-based subsidies that can lower your premium.
Fixed Indemnity
Pays set cash amounts for covered care, like a fixed amount per hospital day or doctor visit, to use however you need.
Health Share
A membership where members share each other's eligible medical bills. Everyone is accepted, it often costs less per month than the Marketplace, and you choose any provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does short-term medical cover pre-existing conditions?
Usually not. Short-term plans ask health questions, can decline an application, and generally exclude conditions you had before the plan started.
How long can a short-term plan last?
It depends on federal and state rules, which have changed several times in recent years. We will tell you what length of plan is available where you live.
Is short-term medical a good bridge to Medicare?
It can be for someone healthy who retires a few months before turning 65. If you have ongoing conditions, a Marketplace plan or COBRA is usually safer.
Not Sure Which Fits?
We compare Marketplace plans and the alternatives side by side for your situation, at no cost to you.