Is Short-Term Medical Insurance Right For You?
10/3/2008 2:46:14 PM
Maybe you've changed jobs, or started a new job, and the health coverage doesn't take effect right away. Or, you've finished college, and are no longer covered under your parents' plan. Perhaps you may be between jobs, and don't know when you will get another job with health benefits.
Even a minor gap in insurance coverage can be cause for worry, because medical bills paid out-of-pocket can be financially devastating.
If this is the case, then short-term medical insurance may be appropriate. When you leave a job, you can choose to continue your coverage under the COBRA act of 1985, or get temporary coverage as your state laws dictate. Or, you can elect to purchase a short-term medical plan.
Weigh the pros and cons, and decide which choice is best for your situation.
Short-term medical insurance is best for those who are in good health, and have no pre-existing conditions. One of the biggest appeals of a short-term plan is its low premium. Depending on the policy, benefits can be up to $2 million per person. However, most policies have a limit on how long they last. The majority last for 12 months, although some insurers have plans with coverage up to 36 months. Short-term insurance can be bought in one-month increments, making it easy to drop the benefits at the end of any given month.
Surgery, hospitalization, emergency room visits, diagnostic tests, prescription drugs, follow-up visits, and limited mental health care are included under most short-term health policies, but under limits and conditions.
Because of its low cost, short-term health insurance does not usually cover routine preventative care such as physical exams, immunizations, and PAP tests. A good rule to remember with short-term health coverage is that it doesn't pay unless you've actually suffered an illness or injury for the first time during the policy period.
Most companies offer a 30-day guarantee period, and will refund 100% of your premium within this time if you decide that you don't want the policy . To get your money back during this window, however, you must not have filed any claims.
With some short-term medical plans, your deductible will apply on a per-injury or per-illness basis. After you've paid the deductible, most insurers will pay up to 50 or 80% of the next $5,000 of medical bills before 100% coverage takes effect, up to the plan maximum.
A short-term health insurance policy works like an "indemnity" plan that gives you the choice to go to any doctor or specialist you like. However, most plans do require pre-authorization, requiring that you obtain approval from your insurer before you are hospitalized (except for emergency treatment). If you don't get pre-authorization, your insurance company won't reimburse you.
If you aren't one of the 170 million Americans covered under an employer plan, short-term health insurance may be an appealing, less expensive alternative. We offer short-term medical from Assurant Health and you can begin the application process at our homepage.
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