Short Term Health Insurance in Virginia

Virginia allows only a three month term and six months of coverage in any 12, with no sales during Open Enrollment. Plans must cover a set of minimum benefits.

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Matthew T. Giberti Matthew T. Giberti Published July 2026 4 min read
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At a glance

Short term plans are available in Virginia, but only briefly: a maximum 3-month term, and no more than 6 months of coverage in any 12-month period.
Plans are not guaranteed renewable, and carriers may not issue short term coverage during the ACA Open Enrollment Period.
Virginia requires these plans to cover minimum benefits (emergency, hospital, physician, outpatient, surgical, radiology, and laboratory services) and caps any preexisting exclusion at three months.
Virginia runs its own marketplace, Virginia's Insurance Marketplace, and has expanded Medicaid.
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What Virginia allows

Virginia permits short term health insurance but keeps it deliberately brief. Under Va. Code 38.2-3407.21, a short term plan may not have a duration that exceeds three months (B)(1), and no renewal or extension may make coverage effective for more than six months, with no person covered more than six months in any 12-month period (B)(2)-(3)). Virginia short term coverage is a true gap-filler, not a long term or renewable plan.

Virginia also layers on real protections. These plans must cover a set of minimum benefits, emergency, hospital, physician, outpatient, surgical, radiology, and laboratory services, and any preexisting-condition exclusion is capped at three months (out of twelve), with credit for prior coverage. They are not guaranteed renewable, carry no waiting or elimination period, and must include a prominent ACA-noncompliance disclosure. Notably, carriers may not issue short term coverage during the ACA Open Enrollment Period. Forms and rates must be filed with the State Corporation Commission.

The Commission's Bureau of Insurance guidance also adds anti-stacking rules, a four month-per-carrier limit, on top of the statutory six month-in-12 cap, so chaining plans from one insurer to build longer coverage isn't viable (an unaffiliated second carrier could add only up to two more months, reconciled with the six month cap).

For context, the 2024 federal 3-month / 4-month rule is currently not being enforced, but Virginia's own statute is stricter and is the binding constraint here.

Your options in Virginia

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

Short term health insurance, brief gap coverage only: a 3-month term, no more than 6 months in any 12-month period, and it must cover Virginia's minimum benefits. Useful for a defined, short gap; not a long term option in this state.
ACA marketplace plans, comprehensive major medical coverage sold through Virginia's Insurance Marketplace, the state's exchange. For any need beyond a couple of months, this is the realistic route: it covers essential health benefits, can't turn you down for preexisting conditions, and may come with income based subsidies.
Fixed indemnity and other excepted benefits, supplemental coverage that pays limited, defined benefits. Virginia requires these to be a separate policy that pays per category of service, with no coordination, and to carry the notice "THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO HEALTH INSURANCE AND IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR MAJOR MEDICAL COVERAGE" (14VAC5-141-120). Not a substitute for major medical.
Medicaid, Virginia has expanded Medicaid, 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, and in a state that limits short term coverage this tightly, we'll tell you honestly when an ACA plan or Medicaid is the better fit.

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How enrollment works here

Virginia runs its own state based marketplace, Virginia's Insurance Marketplace (marketplace.virginia.gov), for ACA plans, you enroll there rather than through HealthCare.gov. Enrollment 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, with a Virginia twist: carriers may not issue short term coverage during the ACA Open Enrollment Period, and coverage is capped at 6 months in any 12-month period. If you need more than a brief bridge, an ACA plan (with a Special Enrollment Period if you qualify) or Medicaid is the realistic route.

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 Virginia:

Your age, older applicants generally pay more.
Where you live in Virginia, 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 in Virginia that's capped at a 3-month term and 6 months in any 12-month period.
What Virginia requires, because these plans must cover a set of minimum benefits and cap preexisting exclusions at three months, they behave differently from bare-bones short term plans in other states.

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 Virginia expanded Medicaid, some lower income residents may qualify for Medicaid at little or no cost instead.

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Short term health insurance is not major medical coverage and is not minimum essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act. In Virginia these plans may exclude preexisting conditions for up to three months (with credit for prior coverage), must meet Virginia's minimum-benefit requirements, and are not guaranteed renewable; they 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 Virginia law and Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau 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.