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Short-Term Health Insurance in Indiana

Indiana allows an initial term of 364 days or less, renewable to at least 36 months, and requires a $2 million minimum benefit limit. Still not ACA coverage.

At a glance

Short-term plans are allowed in Indiana (Indiana Code 27-4-10-5), with an initial term of 364 days or less.
They are renewable for the greater of 36 months or the maximum period permitted under federal law.
Indiana requires more than most states: a $2 million minimum annual benefit limit and coverage for ambulatory, hospitalization, emergency, and laboratory services.
Indiana uses HealthCare.gov and expanded Medicaid through the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP).

What Indiana allows

Indiana permits short-term health insurance by statute — Indiana Code 27-4-10-5 (enacted through HB 1631). The initial term is 364 days or less, and a plan is renewable for the greater of 36 months or the maximum period permitted under federal law.

Indiana stands out for what it requires these plans to include. A short-term plan must carry a minimum $2 million annual benefit limit and must provide coverage for ambulatory patient services, hospitalization, emergency services, and laboratory services — core categories that short-term plans in many other states don't guarantee. Plans are still medically underwritten, pre-existing conditions may be excluded, and they are not ACA minimum essential coverage.

For context, the 2024 federal rule that would cap short-term plans at a 3-month initial term and 4-month total is currently not being enforced (per the August 7, 2025 federal statement), and under that posture Indiana carriers are again offering up to 36-month total durations, consistent with the state statute.

Your options in Indiana

If you're an Indiana resident weighing your choices, here's what's realistically on the table (described as coverage types, not specific products):

Short-term health insurance — temporary, medically underwritten coverage with a 364-day initial term, renewable toward a 36-month total, and with Indiana's minimum $2 million annual limit and core-service requirements. Still a stopgap, not comprehensive coverage.
ACA marketplace plans — comprehensive major-medical coverage sold through HealthCare.gov. These cover essential health benefits, can't turn you down for pre-existing conditions, and may come with income-based subsidies.
Fixed indemnity and other excepted benefits — supplemental coverage that pays limited, defined benefits. Not a substitute for major medical.
Medicaid — Indiana expanded Medicaid through the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), so more low-income adults qualify. It's worth checking your eligibility before buying a short-term plan.

As an independent, carrier-neutral brokerage, we don't steer you to any single insurer — the right fit depends on your health, budget, and how long you need coverage.

How enrollment works here

Indiana uses the federally facilitated marketplace at HealthCare.gov for ACA plans. Enrollment there works on a schedule:

Open Enrollment happens once a year, typically each fall through early winter, for coverage that starts the following January.
Special Enrollment Periods are available year-round if you have a qualifying life event — for example, losing job-based coverage, moving, getting married, or having a baby.

Short-term health insurance is different: because it isn't an ACA plan, you can generally apply for it any time of year, subject to Indiana's requirements and the carrier's underwriting. It can start quickly and outside of Open Enrollment — but it won't qualify you for ACA subsidies.

What it costs

We don't quote premiums on this page — prices change and depend on your specific situation — but here are the factors that drive the cost of coverage in Indiana:

Your age — older applicants generally pay more.
Where you live in Indiana — pricing varies by county and rating area.
Tobacco use — often affects the rate.
Who's covered — an individual, a couple, or a whole family.
The deductible and coverage level you choose — lower out-of-pocket exposure usually means a higher premium.
The length of the term — short-term pricing reflects how long the coverage runs, and Indiana allows renewals toward a 36-month total.
Medical underwriting — because short-term plans in Indiana are underwritten, your health history can affect both eligibility and price.

For ACA marketplace plans, cost works differently: your premium depends on income (which determines subsidy eligibility), age, county, tobacco use, and the metal level you pick. Because Indiana expanded Medicaid through the Healthy Indiana Plan, some lower-income residents may qualify for that coverage instead.

MG Matthew T. Giberti Licensed Expert · NPN 20698856 · Updated July 2026

Short-term health insurance is not major medical coverage and is not minimum essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act. These plans are medically underwritten, may exclude pre-existing conditions, and are not required to cover essential health benefits such as maternity care, prescription drugs, mental health services, or preventive care. They may impose annual or lifetime dollar limits. Short-term coverage does not satisfy any applicable coverage requirements and does not qualify you for ACA premium subsidies.

GetHealthPlans.com is operated by MTG Insurance Agency, an independent, carrier-neutral brokerage. We do not issue insurance and are not a government agency or the health insurance marketplace. Regulatory details on this page reflect Indiana law and Indiana Department of Insurance guidance as of the last-reviewed date and can change; confirm current terms and the specific plan's approved form before you enroll.