Short Term Health Insurance for Nevadans

What Is Covered Under Short Term Insurance

As with any type of insurance, the specific benefits that you’ll receive will vary widely. However, short-term insurance generally covers the following:

• Surgery
• Prescriptions
• Wellness visits
• Ambulance service
• Emergency room visits
• Administration of anesthetics
• Intensive or specialized care
• Organ, tissue, bone marrow transplant
• Inpatient and outpatient doctor visits
• Hospital room, board, and general nursing care
• Outpatient hospital surgery or ambulatory surgical center

It is important to know what your plan does cover. Plans will vary so you’ll want to read the Evidence of Coverage and plan documentation.

What Is Not Covered Under Short Term Insurance?

Short term health insurance plans are not required to meet ACA guidelines and generally do not provide the same coverage that permanent health insurance does. Common exclusions include:

• Coverage for pre-existing conditions
• Substance abuse treatments
• Mental health services
• Maternity care

It is important to know what your plan does not cover. Plans will vary so you’ll want to read the Evidence of Coverage and plan documentation.

How Some Are Using Short Term Health Insurance

Healthy individuals who are unwilling or financially unable to sign up for a long-term ACA-compliant health insurance plan may opt instead to sign up for a more affordable short-term health insurance plan. Some insurers even provide back-to-back 90-day policies, letting applicants go through an initial medical underwriting process and then re-enroll in a new plan every 90 days. Those who go this route will have uninterrupted health insurance coverage, albeit with fewer benefits, higher co-pays, and limited consumer protections.

The Downsides of Back-to-Back Short Term Health Insurance Policies

While many insurers are striving to make it easier for applicants to get affordable health insurance coverage via extended short-term health insurance plans, there are potential downsides to this back-to-back approach.

First of all, If you enroll in multiple short-term health insurance plans and develop a medical condition during the time you’re covered under one of the plans, you’ll likely have to enroll in an ACA-compliant health insurance plan once your pre-purchased series of short-term health insurance plans is up.

Additionally, if you became ill or suffered an injury, even if you met your out-of-pocket deductible during one term, your deductible would reset to zero when you re-enrolled. This scenario could end up costing significantly more than a traditional health insurance plan (though not as much as you’d pay if you had no health insurance).

Before making changes to your health insurance, it’s important to speak with your health insurance agent. They will provide guidance and ensure that you choose a plan that meets your needs and budget.

Is Short Term Insurance a Good Option for Me?

As its name suggests, short term health insurance is not suitable for the long-term. While it’s generally easy to qualify for this type of coverage, and premiums tend to be lower, short term insurance has its shortcomings. For example, the benefits generally won’t cover pre-existing conditions, some plans may, but generally they will not. Also, prescription coverage may not be what you think it is, because short term plans are designed to not cover pre-existing conditions. You can also be turned away depending on your health history, and maternity coverage is usually excluded.

What Is Changing?

Prior to 2016, short-term health insurance had been allowed to last as long as 364 days. The Obama administration shortened it to three months to prevent individuals from using this coverage to circumvent the health care law. In October of 2017, the Trump administration proposed to reverse this rule, making it possible once again for people to purchase non-ACA-compliant coverage for nearly an entire year.

What Does This Mean for Me?

People who are young, healthy, and unable to receive subsidized health insurance through their employer may opt to forgo an ACA-compliant coverage option in favor of a more economically priced short-term health care plan. In fact, some short-term health care plans may cost as little as 20 percent of the cheapest Obamacare plan.

If you do become sick or injured, your out-of-pocket expenses may end up being significantly higher than you expected. Then, once your plan’s term ran out, you probably wouldn’t be eligible to sign up for short-term insurance again and you’d have to sign up for an ACA-compliant long-term plan.

Short Term Insurance vs. Other Alternatives

We do recommend the short-term plans over many other health insurance alternatives (like discount programs, indemnity programs, or mini-medical plans). A short-term plan is more comprehensive coverage than any of these other alternatives, but it is important to compare policies and ensure that the coverage you’ll receive is adequate for your needs.

Nevada Insurance Enrollment Is Here to Help

While short term health insurance may be an ideal temporary solution for some people, others, especially those with pre-existing conditions, may not receive the coverage that they need. If you need health insurance, our health insurance agents are here to help you weigh your options and determine what type of policy will meet your needs and budget.​