Short Term Health Insurance: How Gap Coverage Works

What Short Term Health Insurance Is (and Isn't)

Short term health insurance is temporary coverage built to bridge a gap: between jobs, after aging off a parent's plan, while you wait for a new plan to begin, or after a missed enrollment window. It can start quickly and usually costs less than full coverage, but it works differently from an ACA plan and it is not a long-term replacement.

When it can make sense

• You are between jobs and need something until your new coverage begins.
• You missed Open Enrollment and do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
• You are waiting out a gap before other coverage starts.
• You are generally healthy and need a short bridge, not year-round protection.

What to watch for

• It is medically underwritten. Pre-existing conditions may not be covered.
• It does not have to cover the ACA essential health benefits. Things like maternity or some prescriptions may be excluded.
• Coverage length and renewals are limited and vary by state.
• It is not minimum essential coverage. Treat it as a bridge, not a destination.

How It Compares to a Full Plan

The right choice depends on how long your gap is and what you need covered. Here is how the two compare directly.

If your gap might last more than a couple of months, a Special Enrollment Period or a marketplace plan is often the better route. We will tell you honestly which one fits your situation before you commit to anything.