Short-Term & Gap Coverage

How short-term coverage works

Short-term medical is a flexible, budget-friendly way to bridge a gap in coverage. These plans aren't ACA-compliant major medical, but they can protect you from big out-of-pocket costs during a transition — covering unexpected illnesses, accidents, emergency care, and hospitalizations at a fraction of the cost of a traditional plan.

• Coverage available for up to 3 years minus one day — cancel anytime (cancellations aren't retroactive).
• Apply and enroll entirely online in under 15 minutes.
• Benefits can begin as early as the next day.
• Medical questions required — generally healthier applicants get the best rates.

A catastrophic-style option that can cut premiums roughly in half

Not everyone uses a short-term plan as a bridge. If you're generally healthy, rarely see the doctor, and mainly want protection from a large, unexpected bill, a longer-term short-term plan (up to 3 years minus one day) can work like catastrophic coverage. For people in that situation who don't want to pay full Marketplace premiums, these plans often cost around half as much per month, depending on your age, health, and the benefits you choose.

The trade-offs are real: medical underwriting, excluded pre-existing conditions, and thinner benefits than an ACA plan. Savings are never guaranteed, which is why we compare the numbers against your Marketplace options before you decide.

Is short-term coverage right for you?

These plans are a solid fit if you're in one of these situations:

• Between jobs — lost employer coverage and waiting for a new plan to begin.
• A recent graduate aged off a parent's plan and not yet enrolled elsewhere.
• In a new-job waiting period (often 60–90 days) before employer coverage starts.
• An early retiree who retired before 65 and is waiting for Medicare.
• Someone who missed the ACA Open Enrollment window and needs temporary protection.

What's typically covered — and what isn't

Benefits vary by carrier and state, but plans commonly include doctor and specialist visits, ER and urgent care, hospital stays and surgery, lab and imaging, outpatient procedures, and (on select plans) prescription discounts and telemedicine.

• Not covered: pre-existing conditions are generally excluded.
• Limited or excluded: maternity, mental health, and preventive care may have little or no benefit.
• Not a replacement for major medical — and no ACA subsidies apply.

We compare it against the Marketplace first

Short-term plans are medically underwritten and aren't for everyone. We only recommend one when it genuinely fits, and we always check whether a Marketplace Special Enrollment Period — with subsidies and full benefits — is available to you first.