When situations call for the loss of a job, the prime thing on most people’s minds is: What will I do for health insurance? Short term health insurance provides a viable solution, with its flexible options. Helping out in times of need, it is truly a friend of those who would otherwise be uninsured.
Best for new graduates, those in between jobs, and those whose employer-sponsored insurance will soon become effective, alternatives to COBRA insurance offers a great option for the short term. It is also used extensively by part-time employees who don’t have employer-sponsored insurance, and early retirees waiting for Medicare to become effective.
The first option that comes to mind when someone loses employment is COBRA insurance. The general perception of COBRA continuing coverage sometimes makes people think that the rates will remain the same, but the rates increase as soon as the employer-sponsored part ceases. That makes COBRA coverage more expensive than employer-sponsored and even alternatives to COBRA insurance.
Unlike long term health insurance, signing up for a COBRA insurance alternatives plan is quick and easy, and coverage can even begin within 24 hours. Being temporary coverage, temporary health insurance plans do not cover previously existing conditions.
When you purchase a temporary health insurance plan, you will be covered for any illness or injury that did not exist earlier, as defined by the look-back period. You will be covered for inpatient and outpatient care including surgery, diagnostic examinations and prescriptions, and also for ambulance services. Your plan might also cover scheduled doctor visits.
As with any temporary plan, alternatives to COBRA insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions, pregnancy, cosmetic surgery, and eye and dental care.
A range of deductibles, co-pay, and benefit maximums are offered by temporary health insurance plans. A business owner, for example, may choose a different plan than a student waiting for her first job. Short term insurance benefits also vary by state.
With its myriad plans and coverage, temporary health insurance is ideal in certain situations, but cannot substitute long-term health insurance. It’s best for periods less than one year, but in most cases, the plan you choose can be renewed monthly, for 6-12 months.
Dan Miller frequently writes about temporary health insurance