Fast, temporary coverage for gaps between jobs or plans - often starting the next day. Honest guidance on when it's the right tool, and when an ACA plan beats it.
Short-term medical is bridge coverage: fast to start and often cheaper, but it can exclude pre-existing conditions and doesn't include ACA protections. Always check whether you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period first - Victor checks both in the same conversation, free.
Short-term plans provide temporary protection against unexpected medical bills - doctor visits, urgent care, hospitalization - for a defined number of months. Because they are not ACA marketplace plans, they can be medically underwritten and may exclude pre-existing conditions, maternity, and some prescriptions. The trade-off is speed and price: applications take minutes and coverage can begin the next day.
If you've recently lost coverage, moved, married, or had a baby, you likely qualify for a Special Enrollment Period - which unlocks real marketplace coverage, potentially with subsidies that make it cheaper than a short-term plan. If your income is between 100% and 400% of the poverty level, always price the marketplace first.
"Short-term plans have their place, but I never sell one without first checking if the client qualifies for a subsidized marketplace plan. About half the time, the 'real' insurance turns out cheaper." — Victor Oliveira, Licensed Health Insurance Broker, Fort Lauderdale
Call Victor - he'll check your Special Enrollment eligibility and short-term options in one free conversation.
No - short-term plans aren't ACA-compliant. They can decline applicants and exclude pre-existing conditions, but they're often cheaper and start within days. Bridge coverage, not a permanent replacement.
Between jobs, during benefit waiting periods, or after missing Open Enrollment without a qualifying event. If you qualify for a SEP or subsidies, an ACA plan usually wins.
Often the day after you apply.