Affordable Short Term Health Insurance Quotes
Affordable short term health insurance is designed to fill short term gaps in health insurance coverage. Typically, insurers offer affordable coverage for periods ranging from one to six months. Short term health insurance policies typically cover periods from 30 to 185 days. Exact length of coverage may vary by state. Signa Health is proud to offer the best short term health insurance plans available in the United States. Click on either link above to get instant quotes and plan information from Fortis or Fairmont Specialty Group (FSG), leaders in the short term health insurance market. Call toll free (877) 433-3026 to have a Signa Health agent help you!
Who Needs It?
Typical customers for Affordable short term health insurance are:
- People changing jobs or transitioning into a new career.
- Graduating students no longer covered by the family health plan, and also not yet covered by an employer's group health plan.
- New employees facing a short waiting period before becoming eligible for an employer's group insurance plan.
- Workers who are in part-time or temporary positions for a short period of time.
- Employees who have been laid off or on strike.
- Entrepreneurs starting a new business and want time to shop around for a more permanent plan.
- Early retirees who may face a short waiting period before becoming eligible for Medicare insurance.
What Does It Cost?
Short term health insurance rates vary by age, sex, area of the country, whether or not a spouse and/or children are covered, and plan features such as deductibles. Generally, Short term health insurance plans are more affordable than permanent insurance plans because the insurer is taking less risk. Typically, temporary medical insurance plans are about one-third of the cost of continuing coverage through government regulated extension programs such as COBRA or permanent health insurance plans.
Considerations in choosing a short term health insurance plan
Short term health insurance covers a short time period. Consumers who think they'll need coverage for longer than six months may want to look at a more permanent health insurance option from Signa Health Inc.. Most short term policies are not renewable. Some companies, such as Fortis and Fairmont Specialty Group do allow consumers to take out a second short-term policy under certain conditions.
Short term health insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions. The reasons are obvious to consumers who understand that insurance is designed to protect against the unforeseen. If pre-existing conditions were covered under temporary policies, people could just wait until they were diagnosed with an illness or suffered an injury, buy a policy to cover treatment, then drop it. The cost of such policies would be prohibitive. Because all short term health insurance policies are designed to cover the unexpected, they do not include coverage for preventive care, physicals, immunizations, dental or eye care.
The definition of a pre-existing condition varies by state, but most short term health insurance policies exclude conditions that have been diagnosed or treated within the previous five years. Consumers with an existing medical condition may want to see if extending their current insurance to fill a gap in coverage is an option for them. Employer-sponsored insurance can be extended under a government-regulated option called COBRA. Consumers also have rights to extend health insurance coverage under HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act). Short term health insurance policies are available in most states, but a few states require all health insurance policies to be guaranteed issue and/or guaranteed renewable. Short term health insurance is not available in those states from Signa Health Inc..
Short term health insurance generally includes a provision to handle coverage for ongoing conditions that begin under the policy, but continue after the temporary policy expires. Exact coverage will vary and may depend on whether the condition is short-term or results in total disability.
The application process for a short-term health insurance plan is simple and can be done completely online in typically less than 5 minutes. Short-term health insurance plans are designed to protect you against unforeseen accidents and illnesses, rather than to provide comprehensive coverage, and, as such, typically do not include coverage for preventive care, annual physicals, immunizations, dental and vision care.
Short-term health insurance plans do not cover pre-existing health conditions. The definition of a pre-existing condition will vary by state, but, in general, short-term health insurance policies exclude coverage for any conditions that have been diagnosed or treated within the previous 1 to 5 years.
Some Statistics
A 1998 Census Bureau study, Who Loses Coverage and for How Long, found that young adults (between the ages of 18 and 24) were the most likely of any age group to lack insurance for at least one month. More than half of this group was not continuously covered during the 36-month period studied. This study also found that about half of those who lost coverage lost it for 5.3 months or less. The same study found, not surprisingly, that 56.1% of those with one or more job interruptions were not continuously covered.
A 1999 Public Opinion Strategies survey report showed that there are a significant percentage of people who shift in and out of health insurance coverage. The survey data showed that 40% of the uninsured surveyed had coverage sometime during the year. Although there are many factors causing this movement in and out of the health insurance market, Fortis short term health insurance may provide a solution for some of those who are uninsured for short periods.
Costs of Not Having Insurance
Here are some claims that have been paid under a short term health insurance plan in recent years:
- $622,000 for spinal cord injury. (The consumer paid $266.40 for this $2500 deductible, six-month policy.)
- $463,000 for climbing accident
- $131,000 for aneurysm
- $74,000 for case of pneumonia
How can Consumers cut costs?
- Choose an affordable high-deductible short term health plan.
- Consider a 50% coinsurance option rather than the more typical 80/20. With the 50/50 option, the insurance company covers 50 percent of covered expenses after the deductible; the customer pays the other 50 percent up to a cap. Customers are protected from the costs of catastrophic illness or injury by the cap on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses they need to pay.
- If a consumer knows the exact term coverage is needed, he or she can usually save money with a one-time premium payment.
Plan highlights for the (FSG) Fairmont Specialty Group short term health insurance plan
Fairmont Specialty Group (FSG) Short Term Health Insurance Quote
- Freedom to choose your own doctors and hospitals
- $1 Million Lifetime Maximum Coverage
- In-Hospital and Out-patient benefits
- Physician Services-diagnosis and treatment
- Surgery in a Hospital or Ambulatory Surgical Center
- Intensive Care
- X-Ray and Laboratory
- Ambulance Services
- Spinal Manipulation/Adjustment
- Mammography, Pap smear and screens
Choose the plan that best fits your needs and budget.
$250, $500, $1000 or $2500
80/20 to $5000 or 50/50 to $5000
1-6 months of coverage; or 12 month plan
Why FSG'S Simple Short Term Health Insurance Plan?
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Quality benefits, affordable rates, and simple online application.
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Access to Quote and application online in minutes.
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Instant online issue - Next day coverage available.
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Email confirmation with your policy approval.
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30 to 180 day coverage periods, 12 month plan available. Ability to reapply in most states.
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Instant Charge for credit cards and bank accounts online.
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Monthly and single-pay premium options.
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Children or Child only coverage is available.
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Faxed applications can be accepted (if premium is paid by MasterCard, VISA, or Electronic Funds Transfer EFT).
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Professional Credit Card Quality Plastic ID cards
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Easy, Simple, and Affordable.
This short-term health insurance is issued by Fairmont Specialty Insurance Company or Fairmont Premier Insurance Company. The home office is located in Houston, TX. Short Term health insurance policies contain exclusions and limitations; benefits may vary due to misstatement of age or sex. Policy may not be available in all states.
Simple STM is available in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA HI, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, ME, MI, MS, MO, NE, NV, NM, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI, WY
Plan highlights for the Fortis short term health insurance plan
Fortis Short Term Health Insurance Quote
- Freedom to choose your doctors and hospitals
- $1 Million Lifetime Maximum Coverage
- In-Hospital and Out-patient benefits
- Physician Services-diagnosis and treatment
- Surgery in a Hospital or Ambulatory Surgical Center
- Intensive Care
- X-Ray and Laboratory
- Ambulance Services
- Spinal Manipulation/Adjustment
- Mammography, Pap smear and screens
Choose the plan that best fits your needs and budget.
$250, $500, $1000 or $2500
100%, 80/20, 50/50 (may vary by state)
Note: The 100% rate of payment option is only available for 6-month plans with deductibles of $1000 and $2500.
1-6 months of coverage; or 12 month plan
Why the Fortis Short Term Health Insurance Plan?
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Quality benefits, affordable rates, and a simple online application.
-
Access to Quotes and applications online in minutes.
-
Instant online issue - Next day coverage is available.
-
Email confirmation with your policy approval.
-
30 to 180 day coverage periods, 12 month plan available. Ability to reapply in most states.
-
Instant Charge for credit cards and bank accounts online.
-
Monthly and single-pay premium options.
-
Children or Child only coverage is available.
-
Faxed applications can be accepted (if premium is paid by MasterCard, VISA, or Electronic Funds Transfer EFT).
-
Professional Credit Card Quality Plastic ID cards sent to your client
-
Easy, Simple, and Affordable.
This short-term health insurance is issued by Fortis Insurance Company. The home office is located in Milwaukee, WI. Short Term health insurance policies contain exclusions and limitations; benefits may vary due to misstatement of age or sex. Policy may not be available in all states.
Fortis STM is available in the following states: ALABAMA (AL), ALASKA (AK), AMERICAN SAMOA (AS), ARIZONA (AZ), ARKANSAS (AR), CALIFORNIA (CA), COLORADO (CO), CONNECTICUT (CT), DELAWARE (DE), DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (DC), FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA (FM), FLORIDA (FL), GEORGIA (GA), GUAM (GU), IDAHO (ID), ILLINOIS (IL), INDIANA (IN), IOWA (IA), KANSAS (KS), KENTUCKY (KY), LOUISIANA (LA), MAINE (ME), MARSHALL ISLANDS (MH), MARYLAND (MD), MICHIGAN (MI), MINNESOTA (MN), MISSISSIPPI (MS), MISSOURI (MO), MONTANA (MT), NEBRASKA (NE), NEVADA (NV), NEW HAMPSHIRE (NH), NEW MEXICO (NM), NORTH CAROLINA (NC), NORTH DAKOTA (ND), NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS (MP), OHIO (OH), OKLAHOMA (OK), OREGON (OR), PALAU (PW), PENNSYLVANIA (PA), PUERTO RICO (PR), RHODE ISLAND (RI), SOUTH CAROLINA (SC), SOUTH DAKOTA (SD), TENNESSEE (TN), TEXAS (TX), UTAH (UT), VIRGIN ISLANDS (VI), VIRGINIA (VA), WASHINGTON (WA), WEST VIRGINIA (WV), WISCONSIN (WI)and WYOMING (WY)
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