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