Major Medical Short Term Health Insurance

By Jodee Redmond

Healthy people who are between plans may want to consider one of the major medical short term health insurance plans available. These plans can provide needed protection for people in a variety of circumstances.

Short Term Health Insurance

A major medical short term health insurance plan is designed to provide medical coverage on a temporary basis. Major medical health insurance is not meant to provide protection for services like routine trips to the doctor or preventive care services. Pre-existing medical conditions are also excluded from the policy. It does cover medical expenses like the cost of some surgeries and/or hospital care.

The insured chooses a suitable level of coverage. The coverage can usually be put in place very quickly so that the insured gets the benefit of this protection right away. In many cases, the applicant is only asked to answer a few questions before a policy can be issued.

Get Temporary Major Medical Coverage

In Between Plans

Being without health insurance coverage on a temporary basis is more common than you may think. Millions of people are not eligible for coverage for a variety of reasons including:

People who work part-time and don't qualify for health insurance coverage through their employers.
People who have recently graduated from college and are no longer covered under their parents' health insurance plan.
People who lost their health insurance coverage when they split from a spouse.
Former military members who lose coverage upon discharge.
Unemployed people who qualify for a continuation of benefits under COBRA, but are unable to afford the coverage.
People who took early retirement are without health insurance coverage.

How to Find Short Term Medical Coverage

The Internet opens up a number of options for people who are interested in putting some temporary medical coverage in place. Like other types of insurance, policy terms and pricing can vary from company to company. To find the best combination of attractive coverage terms and affordable pricing, it pays to shop around.

An independent insurance agent can also help a person who is interested in arranging for temporary health care coverage find the right policy. The agent will shop the market to find the right policy for a consumer. An added benefit of working with an agent is that if consumers have questions or concerns about the policy, they can contact the agent for assistance

University students who are close to graduating may want to check with Student Services to find out if there is a short-term health insurance plan available for alumni. Some alumni associations have entered into arrangements with health insurance providers to offer this kind of coverage at preferred rates.

Compare Quotes

When comparing quotes from different insurers, it is a good idea to review each one carefully. Make note of the services that are covered, as well as those that are excluded from the policy. While it may be tempting to make a decision about coverage based solely on price, this is not the best approach. A relatively inexpensive policy that doesn't provide a good level of coverage or that has many exclusions isn't a good deal.

Consumers who are considering this type of coverage should investigate the insurance provider as well. They want to be sure that the company they are considering has the financial resources to pay out on a large claim if the insured becomes ill or is involved in an accident.