Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Who typically purchases temporary health insurance?
Should I purchase short term health insurance instead of COBRA?
Will purchasing short term medical insurance affect my eligibility for HIPAA plans?
Does temporary medical insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
How quickly can I be covered?
Who typically purchases temporary health insurance?
Temporary health insurance plans are designed to fill short-term gaps in health insurance coverage. Most short term medical insurance policies provide coverage for a maximum of six to twelve months. Typical situations that require this type of coverage include:
- People in between jobs or temporarily unemployed
- College graduates that have yet to find employment with health insurance benefits
- Union workers that need health insurance while on strike or locked out
- Those with new jobs that have a waiting period before company health insurance coverage begins
- Retirees waiting for Medicare coverage to begin
- People who have been recently laid off that cannot afford COBRA benefits
Should I purchase short term health insurance instead of COBRA?
If you have been offered insurance coverage via COBRA, your debate between COBRA and short term health insurance should center around the need for coverage of pre-existing conditions. Short term health insurance plans do not cover pre-existing conditions. Therefore if you have an illness or injury that requires ongoing medical attention and/or expensive prescription drugs, you will definitely want to consider COBRA. Temporary health insurance plans generally do not offer maternity coverage, so if you are currently or plan to become pregnant, COBRA may be a better option for you.
Will purchasing short term medical insurance affect my eligibility for HIPAA plans?
Yes. If you have pre-existing conditions that you would like to have covered by a guaranteed-issue health insurance plan under HIPAA, you should not purchase a short term medical insurance policy.
Does temporary medical insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
No. Temporary medical insurance plans (much like major medical insurance plans) generally have exclusions for expenses caused by pre-existing conditions. In order to help you better understand what temporary health insurance companies consider a pre-existing condition, here is a quote from HPA’s Secure 12×3 brochure:
Secure 12×3 will not provide benefits for any loss caused by or resulting from a pre-existing condition. A pre-existing condition is any medical condition or sickness for which medical advice, a diagnosis, treatment, consultation, or medication was recommended or received from a doctor within five years immediately preceding your Secure 12×3 coverage effective date. It also includes symptoms which would have caused a reasonable person to seek diagnosis, care or treatment within five years immediately prior to the coverage effective date. The pre-existing condition limitation may vary by state.
If you select a plan, apply and provide payment online, many of the temporary health insurance policies on TemporaryPlans.com can be in force by 12:01 A.M. the next day.
