Temporary coverage
Short-term health insurance
The short answer
Short-term health insurance is temporary coverage meant to fill a gap, such as the weeks between jobs. It is not an ACA plan, so it can turn you down for your health, leave out pre-existing conditions and cap what it pays. Federal and state rules on how long it can last have changed, so we check your state first.
Short-term health insurance is not comprehensive coverage and does not meet the Affordable Care Act's requirements. Ask for the plan's exclusions and limits in writing before you apply.
A licensed agent calls you at no cost.
Updated and reviewed by the licensed agents at Health Insurance Solutions in Orlando, Florida. How we research and review
Short-Term Medical at a glance
- When you can enroll
- Usually any time
- It is not tied to open enrollment, but each state sets its own rules.
- Pre-existing conditions
- Often excluded
- Federal law does not make these plans cover them or accept you whatever your health.
- Counts as ACA coverage
- No
- It is not minimum essential coverage, and you cannot get a premium tax credit for it.
- How long it lasts
- Set by your state
- The federal limit has changed several times, and states add their own. We check yours before we quote.
Who is short-term health insurance for?
Short-term plans can cover unexpected illness and injury for a limited time. They are not ACA-compliant, usually exclude pre-existing conditions, and term lengths vary by state. We'll tell you honestly if a Marketplace plan is the better fit.
- People between jobs waiting on new employer coverage
- Those who missed Open Enrollment without a qualifying event
- Healthy individuals needing a short bridge
What does short-term health insurance cover?
Usually included
- Doctor visits, hospital stays, surgery and emergency care for a new illness or injury, up to the plan's limits
- A choice of deductible and benefit limit, which sets your monthly premium
- A start date that is often within days, instead of waiting for the next enrollment period
Usually not included
- Pre-existing conditions, which these plans can exclude or decline you for
- Maternity and newborn care, mental health care, prescription drugs and preventive care in many plans
- The yearly and lifetime limits that ACA plans cannot set. A short-term plan can stop paying at a dollar limit
- A way back in. Losing a short-term plan usually does not open a special enrollment period
How much does short-term health insurance cost?
Your price depends on your age, ZIP code, deductible, benefit limit and your answers to the plan's health questions. Many plans cost less each month than a marketplace plan without a tax credit, but they cover less.
No tax credit
Premium tax credits apply only to marketplace plans. If you qualify for one, a marketplace plan can cost less than a short-term plan and still cover more.
Deductible, then your share
You pay a deductible first, then a share of each bill up to the plan's limit. Ask what the plan pays for a hospital stay, not only the monthly price.
Answer every health question
These plans can ask about your health history. Some review your application again when you file a large claim, so answer completely and keep a copy.
A short bridge, not a year round plan
If you need coverage for a year or more, compare a marketplace plan at your next enrollment period.
2027 health insurance subsidy calculator
Enter your state, household size and income to see your 2027 expected premium, your savings and whether Medicaid may apply.Special enrollment deadline calculator
Enter the date of a life event to see your 60-day window to pick a health plan.How is short-term insurance different from an ACA plan?
Short-term plans are not subject to the federal rules that protect people with health conditions. CMS says they are not guaranteed the protections that come with comprehensive coverage.
| ACA marketplace plan | Short-term plan | Fixed indemnity plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Counts as minimum essential coverage | Yes | No | No |
| Required to cover pre-existing conditions | Yes | No | No |
| Premium tax credit available | Yes | No | No |
| Yearly limit on what you pay for covered care | Yes | Not required | No |
| How it pays | Pays or limits what you owe for covered care | Pays covered care up to the plan's limits | A set cash amount for each covered day, visit or service |
| When you can enroll | Open enrollment, or after a qualifying life event | Usually any time, under your state's rules | Usually any time of year |
When is short-term insurance not the right choice?
- You have a health condition you expect to need care for. The plan can decline you or exclude it, and a marketplace plan cannot.
- You are pregnant or planning to be. Many short-term plans leave out maternity care.
- You qualify for a special enrollment period. A marketplace plan that starts within your window covers more and may cost less with a tax credit.
- You expect to need coverage for a year or more. A marketplace plan during open enrollment gives broader protection.
How do we help you decide on short-term coverage?
Check eligibility first
We confirm whether a Special Enrollment Period would give you a better option.
Read the exclusions
We go through what is and isn't covered before you apply.
Set a plan for later
We note when you can move to longer-term coverage and remind you.
Get help
What's your ZIP code?
Plans and prices depend on where you live.
Common questions
What is short-term health insurance?
Short-term, limited-duration insurance is a type of health coverage mainly designed to fill temporary gaps, such as the time between one employer's plan and the next. It is not required to follow most ACA rules for comprehensive coverage.
Does short-term health insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Usually not. CMS says these plans are not subject to the federal rules against health status discrimination, pre-existing condition exclusions and annual and lifetime dollar limits on essential health benefits. Read the exclusions before you apply.
Is short-term insurance the same as ACA coverage?
No. It is not a marketplace plan, it is not minimum essential coverage, and you cannot use a premium tax credit to pay for it.
How long can I keep a short-term plan?
It depends on the federal rule in effect and on your state, and both have changed in recent years. Some states limit how long a plan can last or restrict these plans. We check your state's current rules before we quote.
Can I get short-term insurance outside open enrollment?
Usually yes. Short-term plans are not tied to open enrollment. If you also qualify for a special enrollment period, a marketplace plan is often worth comparing first.
Will I qualify for special enrollment when a short-term plan ends?
Usually not. A special enrollment period is triggered by losing minimum essential coverage, and short-term plans are generally not minimum essential coverage. Plan your move to a marketplace plan before the short-term plan ends, using open enrollment.
Is short-term insurance better than a marketplace plan?
Only in narrow cases, such as a healthy person who needs a short bridge and has no special enrollment option. A marketplace plan covers pre-existing conditions and may come with a tax credit. We tell you plainly when it is the better choice.
Guides that go deeper
Talk to a licensed agent
We compare plans, explain the tradeoffs and help you enroll. It costs you nothing.
Sources
Rules change. Confirm dates, limits and eligibility with the source, your state insurance department or a licensed agent before you decide. We last checked these on .
- CMS: Short term limited duration insurance and independent noncoordinated excepted benefits coverage(opens in a new tab)
- HealthCare.gov: Minimum essential coverage(opens in a new tab)
- HealthCare.gov: Coverage outside open enrollment(opens in a new tab)
- HealthCare.gov: Dates and deadlines for 2027 coverage(opens in a new tab)