Can I still get 6-month health insurance?

Looking for a 6-month health insurance plan for temporary coverage?

You’re smart to take action protect yourself from a gap in coverage.

Even if you’re healthy, going without health insurance can be risky. For example:¹

• Fixing a broken leg can cost up to $7,500
• The average cost of a 3-day hospital stay is around $30,000

Health insurance makes sense. But there’s something you need to know about short-term coverage:

• You can’t get a 6-month health insurance plan anymore.
• It wasn’t that long ago that you could get health insurance for just 1 month or up to three years in most states.
• But new federal rules effective September 1, 2024, limit short-term health insurance to three months with a coverage period of no more than four months, if you include a one-month extension, in a 12-month period.²

If you need short-term insurance (also known as temporary medical insurance) to cover a transition period in your life, consider a 3-month health insurance plan.

Here’s what you need to know….

Fill the gap with a 3-month health insurance plan

A 3-month health insurance plan can help fill a gap in coverage in a variety of situations, including if you:²

• Are unemployed, furloughed, or temporarily laid off
• Are a young adult who is no longer covered by a parent’s health insurance plan
• Are in a waiting period before employer coverage begins
• Retired early and need coverage before Medicare kicks in
• Were recently discharged from the military
• Missed the deadline to enroll in comprehensive health coverage

If you have a gap in coverage, a 3-month health insurance plan might be what you need.

New rules for short-term health insurance

You can get short-term health insurance for 3 months with a maximum coverage period of no more than 4 months, if you include a one-month extension, in a 12-month period, according to new rules recently finalized by the federal government.³

If you need temporary health insurance, a 3-month or short-term plan may be a good fit for several reasons, including:²

• Lower premiums. The big appeal of short-term plans is the cost, as they generally have low monthly premiums.²
• Year-round availability. You can apply any time. Short-term health insurance is available year-round, and coverage can often begin the following day.⁴
• Saving money. If you’re not eligible for a Special Enrollment Period or Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, your premium for a 3-month health insurance plan will most likely be lower than the premiums for an ACA plan with no premium tax credit.

3 things you need to know about short-term health insurance

While a 3-month health insurance plan may be just what you need for a temporary gap in coverage, there are three things that make this type of coverage different than an employer-sponsored health plan or ACA plan:

1. Not all states offer short-term health insurance

States get to decide if they want to offer 3-month health insurance plans based on the new federal rules. Some do, and some don’t. States that don’t offer short-term plans include:⁵

• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Hawaii
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Washington

2. Pre-existing conditions could disqualify you

A medical questionnaire is typically required to apply for short-term health insurance. If you have a preexisting condition, it could disqualify you for short-term health insurance.³

Short-term health insurance plans are not subject to the prohibitions on discrimination based on:

• Health status
• Pre-existing condition exclusions
• Lifetime and annual dollar limits on essential health benefits

3. Coverage for preventive care isn’t included

Short-term health plans are not required to comply with certain federal market requirements regarding coverage for things like:²

• Preventive care
• Emergency services
• Hospitalization
• Prescription drugs
• Mental health services
• Maternity coverage
• Substance use disorder services

Get short-term insurance for a gap in coverage

If you’ve got a gap in coverage, a temporary 3-month health insurance plan may be the right fit based on your situation.

Not sure where to start? We can help.

Give us a call at (800) 827-9990 to talk with a licensed health insurance agent or find one in your area. We’ll review your situation and help identify your health insurance options.