Short Term Health Insurance Duration Limits by State

Some states allow renewals toward a 36-month total, others cap coverage at three to six months, and a few don't allow it at all. The 2026 initial-term and total-duration limit for every state we serve.

Share
Matthew T. Giberti Matthew T. Giberti Published October 2026 3 min read
Woman at her dining table checking her state’s short-term rules on a laptop, a print of the state capitol on the wall behind her

How long a short term health plan can last depends entirely on where you live. Some states allow a single plan to be renewed toward a three-year total; others cap it at three or four months; and a few don't allow it at all. This guide lays out the limits for every state in our licensed footprint.

Quick answer: Short term duration limits in 2026 fall into three buckets, states that allow up to a ~36-month total, states that restrict coverage to a short window (often 3–6 months), and states where it's effectively unavailable. The table below shows the initial-term and total-duration limit for each state and the rule behind it.

How to read this table

  • Initial term is the longest a single policy can run before it must be renewed or replaced.
  • Max total is the longest you can stay covered, counting renewals, the number that matters most.
  • Basis is where the limit comes from: a state statute or rule, a Department of Insurance bulletin, or the federal default a state follows.
Couple on a flight, the woman resting her head on her husband’s shoulder as he looks out the window

Short term duration limits by state (2026)

StateStatusInitial termMax totalBasis
AlabamaAvailable~364 days~36 monthsNo state cap; federal default
ArizonaAvailable<12 months36 monthsA.R.S. 20-1384
ArkansasAvailable<12 months36 monthsArk. Code 23-79-2002
CaliforniaBanned, , Cal. Ins. Code 10123.61
ColoradoUnavailable6 months (none sold)~12 months (none sold)C.R.S. 10-16-102(60) + Reg 4-2-59
FloridaAvailable<12 months36 monthsFla. Stat. 627.6426 (carrier form may vary)
GeorgiaAvailable~364 days~36 monthsNo state cap; federal default
IdahoAvailable<12 months6 mo (traditional) / 36 mo (enhanced)Idaho Code Title 41 Ch. 52
IllinoisBanned, , Public Act 103-0649
IndianaAvailable364 days36 monthsInd. Code 27-4-10-5
IowaAvailableup to 12 months36 monthsIAC 191-36
KansasRestricted6 or 12 months~24 months (one renewal)K.S.A. 40-2,193
KentuckyAvailable<12 months36 monthsDOI Bulletin 2018-02
LouisianaAvailable~364 days~36 monthsNo state cap; federal default
MarylandRestricted<3 months3 months (non-renewable)Md. Ins. Code 15-1301(s)
MichiganRestricted185 days185 days per 365 (nonrenewable)MCL 500.2213b
MinnesotaUnavailable185 days (none sold)365 of 555 days (none sold)Minn. Stat. 62A.65
MississippiAvailable12 months36 monthsNo state statute; federal default
MissouriAvailable12 monthsNo statutory total capRSMo 376.1551 (>6 mo triggers mandates)
NebraskaAvailable364 days36 months2018 DOI Notice
NevadaRestricted185 days185 days per 365NAC 689A.434
New MexicoUnavailable3 months (none sold)3 months (none sold)NMAC 13.10.3
North CarolinaRestricted3 months4 monthsG.S. 58-3-225 (actively enforced)
OhioRestricted364 days364 days (one time, non-renewable)ODI Bulletin 2018-05
OklahomaAvailable<12 months36 months36 O.S. 4419
OregonRestricted3 months3 months (incl. renewals)ORS 743B.005
PennsylvaniaRestricted3 months4 monthsFederal default (31 Pa. Code)
Rhode IslandUnavailable, , R.I. Gen. Laws 27-50-3(t)
South CarolinaAvailable11 months33 monthsDOI Bulletin 2024-13
TennesseeAvailable~12 months~36 monthsNo state number; federal default
TexasAvailable<12 months36 months28 TAC 3.3602
UtahAvailable<12 months36 monthsUtah Admin. Code R590-286
VirginiaRestricted3 months6 months in any 12Va. Code 38.2-3407.21
West VirginiaAvailable~364 days~36 monthsNo state cap; federal default
WisconsinRestricted12 months18 months aggregateWis. Stat. 632.7495
WyomingAvailable~364 days~36 monthsNo state cap; federal default

The federal wrinkle behind the "federal default" states

Several states, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming, have no duration cap of their own. Their up-to-36-month availability exists only because the 2024 federal rule (a 3-month initial term / 4-month total limit) is currently not being enforced. If federal enforcement resumes, those states could snap back to the shorter federal limits. States with their own statute or rule (like Arizona, Texas, Utah, and Oklahoma) don't carry that risk.

Not sure which plan fits?

A licensed agent compares your real options for your ZIP in plain English. No cost. No pressure.

Three things the duration limit doesn't tell you

  • Renewability: most short term plans are not guaranteed renewable, so the "max total" is a ceiling, not a promise.
  • Underwriting: in most states these plans are medically underwritten and can exclude preexisting conditions (Idaho's enhanced plan is a guaranteed issue exception).
  • Coverage: short term plans are not ACA minimum essential coverage and don't have to cover the essential health benefits.

For the longer duration states specifically, see which states allow 36-month short term plans. For the no-market states, see where short term medical is banned or unavailable.

Get help matching the rule to your situation

Duration limits are only the starting point. As an independent, carrier neutral brokerage, we can help you compare what's actually available in your state and whether short term coverage, or an ACA plan, fits your timeline. Free, with no obligation.

Matthew T. Giberti Matthew T. Giberti Licensed Insurance Producer · National Producer Number: 20698856 Licensed Insurance Producer · National Producer Number: 20698856 About Matthew →

This article is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Regulatory details reflect state law and guidance as of the last updated date and can change; confirm current terms before you enroll. Last updated: 2026-07.