Short Term Medical Overview

How long can I be covered? You can get coverage for as few as 30 days or as many as 360 days, depending on the state you live in. (Some states mandate a maximum coverage of 180 days.)

Who is eligible? Healthy individuals bettwen the ages of 30 days and age 64 and 11 months, and who have a temporary insurance need. Also, dependent children through age 18, 24 if a full-time student, and foreign residents living in the U.S. for at least one year at the time of enrollment, with appropriate documentation.

Who is not eligible - persons who would be declined for an individual medical policy, persons turning 65 or who become eligible for Medicare during the benefit period, anyone who is pregnant, persons seeking coverage while traveling outside the U.S., and persons previously declined by another insurance carrier.

When to choose Short Term Medical - policies like this cover a person for a limited period. If you think you'll need more permanent coverage, you may want to look at another health insurance option, such as a permanent individual medical policy.

Pre-existing conditions - Because Short Term Medical is designed to cover the unexpected, it does not include coverage for pre-existing conditions*, preventive care, physicals, or dental or eye care.

*The definition of a pre-existing condition varies by state, but in general, Short Term Medical excludes conditions that have been diagnosed or treated within the previous 5 years, or that produced signs or symptoms within the 5 year period immediately preceding the covered person's effective date**. If you have an existing medical condition, you may want to see if extending your current insurance to fill a gap in coverage is an option. Employer-sponsored insurance can be extended under a government-regulated called COBRA.. **may vary by state