Thursday, January 29, 2009

Short Term Health Insurance

By Jeff Cline

Are you looking for a health insurance plan that will cover you for 30 days or 6 months. Short Term or Temporary health insurance is what you need. It is designed to give you health insurance for a designated amount of time.

These plans require you to meet a deductible before coverage kicks in. Once deductible is meet. then the insurer will help cover any eligible illness or accident that may occur during that period of coverage. This is perfect for someone that will have a short lapse of coverage.

The main reason for short term is to cover things such as in and outpatient hospitalization and surgeries. It would pay surgeon fees, room and board and equipment. It would cover the hospital stay and related expenses. just incase an unexpected illness occurred.

You would not expect it to cover routine office visits or prescriptions meds. Any of these cost you would expect to pay out of pocket. If you had labs or x-rays for a minor illness or occurring from an office visit you would likely to pay for that as well.

It tends to be a great option for those who can not afford the high cost of COBRA plans. Or newly graduates in between carriers. And even those trying to secure individual coverage and is seeing a gap due to the underwriting process.

Some of these plans require you to pay for the entire term you buy up front. Others allow you to o pay month to month. Rates are typically calculated day to day or per month. It depends on the carrier what options they have.

Traditional plans have a long enrollment process. With short term they are quick and easy. Enrollment usually takes 5-10 minutes and in many cases approved right away. You could be covered as soon as the next day.

If you are unsure of how long you need this plan don't fret. Choose your best estimated guess and if you have to you can purchase another term once that is over. Most carriers allow you to do this at least once a year. - 15485

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