Guides / Short-term
Use short-term coverage as a bridge.
Short-term medical and multi-year short-term medical are not ACA plans. They ask health questions. They are a poor fit as a plan you mean to keep by reapplying every year.
Florida requires a signed short-term disclosure when you apply. The carrier application is where you sign it.
How do short-term and multi-year plans differ?
Lengths, fees, and limits differ by plan and state. The brochure is the source.
| Topic | Short-term | Multi-year short-term |
|---|---|---|
| Term | A set number of months. When it ends, it ends. | One policy can cover more than one year. The brochure states the length. Do not assume a number of years. |
| At the end | You apply again from scratch. It is not a renewal. | You are not reapplying during the term. The premium can still change during the term. |
| Pre-existing conditions | Generally not covered. | Limited, especially early in the policy. The brochure says how. |
| A large bill | Many of these plans use a deductible and then share costs up to a limit the plan sets. Confirm it in the brochure. | You pick a deductible. After that, you share costs up to an out-of-pocket limit the plan sets. Confirm it in the brochure. |
| Price | The premium applies to that term. A new application is a new price. | The price is not locked for the whole term. Expect that it can go up. There is no rate guarantee on this page. |
| Fees | Any fee belongs on the quote Seth sends. This page does not state a dollar fee. | Some plans add an application fee or a monthly membership fee on top of the premium. A quote lists them. |
| Underwriting | Health questions. The carrier can accept you, offer a higher rate, or decline you. | Same. A higher rate is still the carrier's decision. |
| Not an ACA plan | Correct. Maternity, mental health, substance use treatment, and pediatric dental are generally not covered. | Correct. The same four items are generally not covered. |
| If you move | The policy may not go with you to another state. | The policy may not go with you to another state. |
When does short-term coverage make sense?
Use short-term coverage as a bridge when you already know the end date.
- A clear end can make sense. You are between jobs and the next coverage has a start date, or you missed Marketplace open enrollment and need something until the next window.
- Reapplying every year is a different risk. Care during one policy can be treated as pre-existing on the next application, or the next application can be declined.
- If you need coverage for the long haul, talk with Seth about options built for that, including the Marketplace. We can help with an ACA plan too.
- Networks differ. Some plans pay in network only. Others pay more in network than out of network. Check the provider search for the network named on that plan. Provider search
Some people hold more than one policy. Whether to do that is a conversation with Seth. This page does not suggest a combination.
If you do not qualify, there may be other options. Ask Seth. Need Medicare? We can help with that too.
Multi-year plan name and brochure
Short-term plan name and brochure
Related: fixed indemnity, private PPO, and which setup fits.
Questions about your own coverage go to Seth. This page cannot answer them.