Ask the doctor


Short Term Health Insurance

If you are between jobs or are awaiting
another health insurance policy to come intoThe main concern, and something you should be
effect you may find that you have a gap inaware of if you are considering a short term
your health insurance coverage. This periodplan is that they will make you ineligible
is a high risk as you are effectivelyfor guaranteed issue health plans. These
uninsured when it comes to health insurance.plans are most commonly referred to as HIPAA
So what are you to do in this interim period?plans. They can be very expensive and are
Well one of the best options in suchused in cases where the insured has existing
situations is to consider taking out amedical conditions, which would otherwise
short-term health insurance policy. This willmake it very difficult for you to obtain
cover  you  for  a  limited  or  fixed  term.health insurance. If you think you will need
eligibility for a HIPAA plan, you should not
Usually, short-term health insurance policiespurchase short-term health insurance. The
last for periods of less than six months.Health Insurance Portability and
There are policies that will cover you for upAccountability Act or HIPAA, and state health
to twelve months also however. If you needinsurance rights are important protections
coverage for periods longer than this, youand you should seek advice from a benefits
should probably be considering standardadvisor  in  these  regards.
individual  or family health insurance plans.
Are  you  covered?
Application  is  Simple
Short-term health insurance plans will not
One of the benefits of short-term healthcover existing medical conditions. While the
insurance is that the application process isexact definition depends on your
somewhat more straightforward. These policiescircumstances and on state laws, what this
are really designed to cover unforeseenmeans is that if you have been diagnosed in
accidents and other emergency situations andthe last three to five years or have been
are not recommended for comprehensive healthreceiving treatment for a condition, it will
protection. They will therefore generally notbe a pre-existing condition and you will not
cover such advanced features as preventiveget coverage for it under your short term
treatments, physical and diagnostic tests,plan. Therefore, if this applies to you, it
immunizations, dental and vision expensesis recommended that you extend your current
which you should try to avoid for the periodcomprehensive policy rather than switch to a
under which you are covered by the short termshort-term plan.
plan.



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