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Short-Term Medical Insurance

Temporary coverage that bridges a gap — between jobs, after a missed open enrollment, or while you wait for other coverage to start.

No cost. No pressure. Takes about 2 minutes.

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Built for known gaps

Is a short-term bridge the right tool for you?

One test: you can name the date your gap ends. If you can, short-term is built for you — three situations we hear weekly.

Between jobs, and COBRA is too expensive

You left one job in March, the next starts in June. A 90-day plan covers the what-ifs for a fraction of the COBRA premium.

Waiting for new benefits to kick in

Your new employer’s coverage starts after 60 or 90 days. Short-term coverage carries you to day one without betting on luck.

Missed open enrollment, no qualifying event

The ACA window closed in January and reopens in November. A short-term plan keeps you protected until it does.

Built for gaps

Temporary coverage for a defined window — between jobs, plans, or life changes.

Medically underwritten

Application questions apply, and pre-existing conditions are generally not covered.

Terms vary by state

How long you can keep a plan depends on your state’s rules — we confirm before you enroll.

Pick the day it starts.

Apply today and coverage can begin as soon as tomorrow. You pick the dates; a licensed agent sizes the term to your gap, at no cost.

Size your gap with an agent
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Short-term medical, answered

GetHealthPlans.com licensed agent GetHealthPlans.com licensed agent Answers by our licensed team Reviewed for accuracy Updated July 3, 2026

Often the day after you apply. There’s no enrollment window and no waiting for the 1st of the month — you pick your start date. That speed is the main reason short-term plans exist.

It depends on your state — some allow terms of a year or close to it, others cap them at a few months, and a few don’t allow short-term plans at all. Your agent will tell you the real maximum for your ZIP code up front. Need multiple years? Look at extended short-term instead.

A new illness or injury is covered under the plan’s benefits for the rest of your term. The honest catch: if you then buy a new short-term plan afterward, that condition counts as pre-existing on the new application. For a longer horizon, that’s exactly the problem extended short-term solves.

Sometimes — some plans offer re-application, but it’s a new medically underwritten application, and anything that developed during your first term can be excluded or declined. If your gap might stretch, tell your agent up front so they size the term correctly the first time.

No federal penalty. A few states — California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and DC among them — have their own coverage mandates with state tax penalties, and short-term plans don’t satisfy them. If you live in one, we’ll factor that in before you decide.

Yes. If your new job’s benefits start sooner than expected, you can drop the plan without a cancellation penalty. You’re not locked in for the full term.

No — premium tax credits only apply to ACA marketplace plans. If your income likely qualifies you for a subsidy, run the ACA numbers first: subsidized major medical sometimes costs less than a short-term plan, with far more coverage.

Cover your gap starting as soon as tomorrow

Real short-term options for your ZIP code, compared in plain English. No cost. No pressure.

Or call +1 (888) 885-6520 to talk with a licensed agent.

IMPORTANT CONSUMER DISCLOSURES: SHORT TERM MEDICAL INSURANCE

Short term medical insurance is temporary coverage, not an Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan. It is designed to fill gaps between comprehensive plans. This coverage is not required to comply with certain federal market requirements for health insurance, principally those contained in the Affordable Care Act. Review the policy carefully so you understand what it covers — and what it doesn’t.

  • Applications are medically underwritten — coverage can be declined based on health history.
  • Preexisting conditions are generally excluded.
  • Benefits the ACA requires may not be covered, including prescription drugs, maternity care, mental health and substance use disorder services, and preventive care.
  • Lifetime and annual dollar limits on benefits may apply.
  • This is not “minimum essential coverage.” When it ends, you may have to wait for an ACA open enrollment period — losing short term coverage does not qualify you for a special enrollment period.
  • Initial terms, renewals, and maximum durations vary by state and plan.

Looking for comprehensive health insurance? Visit HealthCare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325) to see ACA coverage options. If you may qualify for coverage through your job, or a family member’s job, contact the employer.

State variations. Availability, benefits, exclusions, term limits, and required disclosures vary by state, and some products are not offered in every state. The state-specific notices in your quote, application, and policy documents control if they differ from this summary.

WHAT THIS APPLIES TO

These disclosures apply to the short term medical insurance plans offered on this page through GetHealthPlans.com®.

  • Plans are underwritten by the insurance company identified in each plan’s details and policy documents.
  • This is a solicitation of insurance. A licensed insurance agent may contact you.
  • Speak with a licensed agent to confirm what a specific plan covers before you enroll.