4 Best Short-Term Health Insurance Companies 2023

UnitedHealthcare is the best company for short-term health insurance based on features like multiple plan types, renewal options and out-of-network care. These factors make UnitedHealthcare stand out among other short-term insurance providers.

Also called temporary health insurance, short-term health insurance is usually cheaper than regular health insurance. Benefits can begin right away. However, the downside is that many plans have medical exclusions and higher deductibles. Customers often use short-term coverage as a bridge between full-benefit health policies.

Best short-term health insurance companies

The best short-term health insurance available is through UnitedHealthcare (UHC). The company provides coverage not offered by many short-term plans, such as preventive care, which promotes good health by catching issues early, and a dental add-on benefit. With UnitedHealthcare, you can choose from several policies with varying deductibles and term lengths.

All companies offer a range of policies with varying deductibles and coverage levels. A typical short-term health insurance policy will cost about $200 per month for a mid-tier plan with a $5,000 deductible.

Monthly cost for a short-term health insurance plan

UnitedHealthcare: Best overall plan

UnitedHealthcare short-term health insurance is the best option if you are looking for multiple plan choices that offer benefits not always found in short-term plans, such as preventive care and optional dental coverage where available.

While some UHC plans restrict your care to network health care providers, UHC has a sizable network of more than 1.4 million medical providers and 6,500 hospitals.

UHC is a well-known and reputable insurance company with a very low rate of customer complaints. Short-term policies offered by UHC are underwritten through a subsidiary, Golden Rule Insurance Co. Both companies have strong financial strength ratings, meaning they have a high ability to pay out policy claims.

Everest: Most comprehensive medical benefits

Everest has the best short-term insurance plans if you want coverage for wellness visits, emergency care and mental health care — unique services not typically covered by this type of policy.

Everest offers a variety of plans with deductibles ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Other companies start with a minimum deductible of $2,500. The lower deductible means you pay less out of pocket and meet your deductible more quickly, allowing plan benefits to kick in sooner.

Along with coverage for adults, Everest has plans with wide-ranging coverage for children aged 2 to 25 years. It also offers child-only plans, which aren't always available from other insurers. Many short-term plans provide coverage for children only if they share your policy with their parent(s). This option can be helpful if you need to insure your child during a temporary break in health coverage.

Pivot: Best for affordability and value

Pivot Health offers four levels of coverage to meet your short-term insurance needs and budget. Pivot deductibles are between $1,000 and $10,000, a lower range than many short-term plans. Some Pivot plans charge a flat copay of $30 to $60 for medical visits, rather than coinsurance. Copays are typically cheaper than coinsurance and provide the comfort of knowing exactly what you'll pay for each visit.

Pivot Health has some bonuses that are not usually available for short-term health insurance. This includes access to a telemedicine program that is open 24/7 and allows you to speak to a medical professional on demand. Other perks include up to 70% off prescription drugs and potential discounts of up to 30% on eye exams, glasses and contact lenses.

Policy options include child-only plans, so you can buy temporary coverage just for your child. There is no network requirement attached to many Pivot plans, meaning you can get care from almost any doctor.

Allstate Health: Best for bundling

Previously sold under the brand National General, these short-term policies are now being marketed under its new parent company, Allstate.

If you have Allstate for home or auto insurance, using the same company for medical insurance can be an added convenience. However, there is not currently a multi-plan discount for Allstate short-term medical policies.

Allstate's short-term medical plans are usually more expensive than other companies when comparing the same level of coverage. Very cheap plans are available, though these bargain plans can have very poor benefits. For example, a plan could have a $25,000 deductible and a maximum benefit of $250,000, rather than more typical minimal coverage with a $10,000 deductible and a $1 million benefit cap.

Plans use the Aetna PPO network, which gives you a good choice of doctors. Coverage for preventative care is usually included, and urgent care appointments can be cheap because you'll pay lower rates even if you haven't yet met your deductible.

---

Best short-term health insurance plans — a quick guide

[/cta-banner]

---

What is short-term health insurance?

Plans usually cost less than a traditional health insurance policy, and short-term plans are sometimes called instant health insurance, as coverage typically begins as soon as your application is approved.

Benefits can vary widely because short-term plans do not have to adhere to standard coverage requirements. This means it's important to carefully check the plan details so you know what's covered and what's excluded.

Unlike an individual health insurance plan, a temporary health plan may deny you an insurance policy based on a preexisting condition or health standards set by the insurer. During the application process, you must answer some questions about your health history, and you may need to undergo a medical exam as well.

Pros and cons of short-term medical insurance

Short-term health insurance laws by state

Federal rules set the maximum length of short-term health insurance policies to 364 days and the maximum number of renewals to three. This means that the maximum amount of time that you would be able to have a short-term health insurance policy is just short of three years.

Many states further restrict how long you can keep short-term plans or may even prohibit them from being sold.

State laws where short-term medical insurance is offered

Compare rates

States where short-term health insurance is not sold

Short-term plans are permitted in the states below; however, at this time, no insurers are offering plans. If sold, the plans would have the following requirements:

States where short-term health insurance is prohibited

Although short-term policies are available in many states, there are some areas where you will not be able to get this type of coverage. In the following states, legislation makes the sale of short-term health insurance illegal:

Should I purchase short-term health insurance?

Your best use of a short-term health insurance plan is to fill a gap in coverage until you can find a longer-term health insurance option. It is a temporary solution that could be an excellent option to consider in the following scenarios:

[list columns=2"] Waiting period for employer health insurance Missed open enrollment Not qualifying for a special enrollment period (SEP) Losing a job Needing coverage before Medicare begins Not qualifying for COBRA insurance Students who need coverage during the school year Aging out of a parent's plan [/list]

Frequently asked questions