Health Benefits Connect
What are the top 5 short term health insurance plans?
The list below represents the top 5 short term health insurance plans according to our professional opinion. You can find out how we determined the rankings HERE. Please keep in mind that many factors dictate which health insurance plan is best for your needs. These rankings are a way of reflecting the average cost/benefit values based on our analysis. The easiest way to figure out which plan is the best fit for your needs is to call one of our licensed agents at 866-966-9868.
Questions?
Call Us: 1-866-966-9868
Process
To determine the top 5 short term health insurance plans of 2022, we reviewed a myriad of factors. Our goal was to highlight some of the best short term health insurance options offered through reputable insurance companies. The most important consideration for determining the top 5 short term medical plans was the feedback from our customers. Still, we evaluated every factor one should consider when shopping for short term health insurance.
Factors
Feedback from our customers and online reviews
Monthly cost based on average premium ratings
Plan value determined by cost/benefit analysis
Size and accessibility of doctor and hospital networks
Customer service and claims processing
Online quoting and application process
Final Result
All in all, we did not take this assignment lightly. As always, we strive to provide our customers with the most accurate and up-to-date information and tools to find the best short term health insurance plan that fits their medical needs and monthly budget. It’s important to understand that with short term medical plans, there is no one size fits all type of policy. What may be the best insurance policy for one family, might not work well for others.
This list is a great resource, however, if you have specific questions about your particular health insurance needs, please call us directly at 866-966-9868 for a free consultation with a licensed health insurance broker.
#1 Everest Flex Term
Company Description:
The Flex Term short term health insurance plan is the brand name for health insurance products underwritten by Everest Reinsurance Company. Everest is rated A+ Superior by the A.M. Best Company for their financial stability. Everest has been a global leader in reinsurance and insurance products for over 40 years.
Everest Flex Term health insurance policies are administered by InsuranceTPA.com. Insurance TPA has consistently provided our members with excellent customer service.
Everest Flex Term Health Insurance:
Features: The Everest Flex Term short term health insurance plan provides great value based on its benefit-rich plans at a low monthly cost. Consistently one of the best-priced plans available, the Everest Flex Term plan offers customizable plan designs with month-to-month plan terms. Our customers also like that the Everest Flex plan includes a $50 copay for doctors office visits, including an annual wellness checkup. These are the reasons why the Everest Flex plan is #1 on our list of the top 5 short term health insurance plans.
Doctor Network:
Everest Flex Term policies do not confine you to a specific network, but it can be advantageous to see doctors and obtain other ancillary services in the PHCS Practitioner Plus Ancillary Network (Multiplan PHCS Network).
PROS:
Low Monthly Premiums
$50 Doctor Copay
Great Customer Service
Flexible Plan Terms (Month-to-Month)
Easy Online Application
CONS:
Any Email Required For Online Quote
Some States Only Have 6 Month Terms
No Prescription Discount Card
Association Fee ($15.95) (Not All States)
Telemedicine Not Always Included
#2 United Healthcare
Company Description:
UnitedHealthOne® is a brand representing UnitedHealthcare branded individual insurance products. UnitedHealthcare family and individual insurance plans are underwritten by Golden Rule Insurance Company. Prior to being purchased by UnitedHealthcare in 2003, Golden Rule Insurance Company had served the insurance needs of families and individuals for decades. Golden Rule Insurance Company, which underwrites many of the individual insurance products, is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best as of 12/09/2021. The family of UnitedHealthcare companies has served the health insurance needs of individuals and families since 1946.
United Healthcare Short Term Health Insurance:
Features: United Healthcare has been a trusted name in the health insurance industry for decades, and the United Healthcare brand is almost universally recognizable. The UnitedHealthcare PPO network of doctors and hospitals is one of the largest networks in the United States. Another reason United Healthcare short term health insurance is one of the top options is due to the ease of use. Our customers find the plans easy to use and understand. This comes as no surprise as UnitedHealthcare has been offering short term health insurance for over 30 years.
Doctor Network:
The United Healthcare Choice PPO network is one of the largest and most widely accepted networks of doctors and hospitals in the nation. It’s one of the main reasons to buy a United Healthcare short term health insurance plan.
PROS:
Large Doctor Network
Highly Recognizable Brand
Flexible Plan Designs
Flexible Plan Terms Up to 3 Years
Great Customer Service
CONS:
Monthly Cost
Slightly Stringent Underwriting
Not All Plans Have Doctor Copays
Not All Plans Have Wellness Benefits
Optional Telemedicine (Charge Applies)
#3 Pivot Health
Company Description:
Pivot Health is a division of HealthCare.com, a leader in technology-enabled health insurance solutions. Its backers include AXIS Capital, CNO Financial Group, Second Alpha, and Link Ventures in addition to its original investor, PeopleFund, and individual investors including current and former executives of Booking.com and Priceline. The company is rated “Excellent” by its customers based on Trustpilot reviews.
Pivot Health insurance policies are administered by Insurance Benefit Administrators.
Pivot Health Short Term Insurance:
Features: Pivot Health short term health insurance plans offer some of the lowest premiums on the market and they offer a variety of different health insurance plan options to choose from. The Pivot Health quote engine is completely confidential and easy to use and the application process can be completed online in under 10 minutes.
Doctor Network:
Pivot Health offers many different plan options, and the doctor network can vary between plans. Most of the plan options use an Open Network (Reference Based Pricing) model, but some of their plan options use the Cigna PPO network. Using Pivot Health’s online quote engine, you can see the different plan options and their respective doctor networks.
PROS:
Low Monthly Premiums
Variety Of Plan Options
Confidential Online Quotes
All Plans Include Telemedicine
Comes With Easy To Use Phone App
CONS:
All Digital (Insurance Cards Included)
Application Fee ($54.95)
Not All Plans Have Copays
Not All Plans Include Prescriptions
Not Available In All States
#4 National General
Company Description:
National General Insurance has been helping people protect their health, homes, and vehicles for over 75 years. National General Accident & Health, markets products underwritten by National Health Insurance Company, Integon National Insurance Company, and Integon Indemnity Corporation. National General’s underwriting companies are rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best.
On January 4th, 2021, The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) announced that it closed its $4 billion acquisition of National General Holdings Corp. The Allstate Corporation has a financial rating of A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best.
National General Health Insurance:
Features: National General short term health insurance products are widely accepted because their plans use the Aetna Open Choice PPO network. Our customers love their catastrophic plans, specifically their high deductible 100% plans. They also offer great supplemental plans that eliminate deductibles and out-of-pocket costs for major illnesses and unexpected injuries. These combo plans offer the best coverage for major health insurance claims.
National General’s online quote engine allows you to run anonymous quotes and apply online, but it isn’t the most user-friendly. Also, they offer healthy discounts and prior coverage discounts that only agents can view during the quoting process. For these reasons, we recommend calling us directly at 866-966-9868 to get the most accurate and lowest quote available.
Doctor Network:
National General short term health plans use the Aetna Open Choice PPO network. It’s one of the largest and most widely accepted short term health insurance plans.
PROS:
Aetna Open Choice PPO Network
Excellent Customer Service
Great Catastrophic Plan Designs
Extra Layer Supplemental Options
Health Discount (Call 866-966-9868)
CONS:
Quote Engine Not User-Friendly
Higher Premiums In Some Areas
Must Create An Account To Apply
Most Plans Do Not Include Copays
Health Discount Not Available Online
#5 The IHC Group
Company Description:
Independence Holding Company (NYSE: IHC), through their current subsidiaries, has distributed Medicare, life, under age 65 health (including Affordable Care Act plans), and other insurance products for over 35 years.
IHC Group short term medical plans are administered by The Loomis Company.
The IHC Group Health Insurance:
Features: The main reason why short term medical plans are less expensive than other types of health insurance plans is because short term medical plans do not cover pre-existing conditions. However, The IHC Group has a plan called the Connect Plus Short Term Medical plan that does offer coverage for pre-existing conditions. This is one of the main advantages of short term medical plans from The IHC Group.
Another advantage of short term health insurance plans with The IHC Group is that they have low premiums for terms lasting 6 months or less. If you only need coverage for a small period of time, you should look at their plan options to see if they are a good fit.
Doctor Network:
The IHC Group short term medical plan options use an Open Network (Reference Based Pricing) model. You can see any provider you choose and The IHC Group will pay claims based on usual, reasonable, and customary charges.
PROS:
Some Pre-Existing Condition Coverage
Great Rates For Shorter Terms
Flexible Plan Terms (Month-to-Month)
Anonymous Online Quotes
Easy Online Application
CONS:
Higher Prices For Longer Terms
Not As Recognizable As Other Plans
HIgh Co-Insurance Amounts
Not Available In All States
Reference-Based Pricing Model Only
Bonus Option – Redirect Health Share Plan With No Medical Underwriting
Company Description:
The Redirect Health journey started in 1997 by medical doctors who realized they needed to reimagine how to make healthcare truly work for patients. What resulted was a solution that would fundamentally transform the healthcare industry and make it truly relevant in today’s marketplace.
The Redirect iEverydayCARE plan is managed by Redirect Health Administration.
This program is NOT insurance. iEverydayCARE is managed by Redirect Health exclusively for members of the Reimagined Society. The Medical Cost Share risk pool is managed by Newpath Medical Inc., a Wyoming Medical Cost Share organized pursuant to Wyo. Stat. Ann. 26-1-104. See brochure for details. Redirect Heath and Newpath Medical Inc. are not insurance companies.
Redirect iEverydayCARE Health Share Plan:
iFeatures: The iEverydayCARE health share plan from RedirectHealth offers great health benefits at a fair cost, even though it’s not short term health insurance. The reason you would choose this plan over a short term insurance plan is that this plan has no medical underwriting. For this reason, we recommend the iEverydayCARE plan to anyone who cannot qualify for a typical short term insurance plan due to their medical history. This is why we included the Redirect iEverydayCARE plan as a bonus option on our list of the top 5 health insurance plans.
Doctor Network:
Redirect iEverydayCARE policies utilize the Multiplan PHCS Practitioner network. Also, it can e advantageous for you to schedule your health appointments using the RedirectHealth Member App on your phone.
PROS:
No Medical Underwriting
$0 - $50 Doctor Copays
Prescription Coverage
Easy Online Application
Month-To-Month With No Term Limit
CONS:
Health Share Plan (Not Insurance)
Higher Cost Than Short Term Medical
Not A Recognizable Company
Skilled Nursing Facilities Not Covered
Organ Transplants Not Covered
What is short-term health insurance?
Short term medical insurance is health coverage designed to cover individuals and families for a pre-determined length of time. The term lengths generally range from one month up to a year, although some policies have terms of up to 364 days and can be automatically renewed for up to three years. Some states have restrictions on the term lengths for short term medical plans.
Why is short term health insurance so popular?
Short term medical insurance is popular because the monthly premiums tend to be much less expensive than traditional employer-based coverage or Marketplace (Obamacare) plans. Although most short term insurance plans don’t provide coverage for pre-existing conditions, the monthly cost savings can provide tremendous value. Also, there are many different types of short term insurance plans, making it easy for anyone to find a plan that fits their medical needs and monthly budget.
How much does short term health insurance cost?
The cost of your short-term health insurance plans depends on your age, location and the level of coverage you select. If you are on the lower end of the age spectrum, you can find a plan for less than $100 per month. No matter what your age is, the cost of a short term health insurance plan is less expensive than a traditional major medical plan.
Who can benefit from short term health insurance?
There are many different types of people who can benefit from a short term health insurance plan. Here are some great examples of who can benefit the most:
- Self-employed or 1099 employees with no access to employer insurance
- Anyone who finds Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans too expensive
- Early Retirees needing to bridge a coverage gap until Medicare
- Students or young adults who no longer qualify for their parents’ insurance
- Individuals and families needing to bridge a gap to the next Open Enrollment
- Individuals between jobs or waiting for employer-sponsored health insurance
- Anyone needing access to a large PPO network of doctors and hospitals
Who is eligible for short term health insurance?
Anyone can apply for short term health insurance. However, because short term health insurance plans are not ACA compliant, they require medical underwriting and may refuse to insure you (or offer only limited coverage). This means that you must be under 65 years old, and generally in good health. The medical underwriting process usually means 5 to 6 yes/no questions about major medical conditions on the application. Anyone who can answer ‘no’ to all the questions will be extended coverage on the requested effective date.
Are short term health insurance plans flexible?
Although short term health insurance plans have a defined coverage period known as the ‘policy term’ they are month-to-month insurance policies that can be canceled at any time, after 30 days, without penalty. This flexibility gives you peace of mind when dealing with the stress of unexpected loss of coverage after losing employment. It also helps with college students only needing to fill certain coverage gaps during the school year.
How do you apply for short term health insurance?
In most states, once your term has expired, you can reapply for a new term to begin immediately. Shorter terms are generally less expensive than longer terms, but please keep in mind that your deductible and max out-of-pocket will reset for each term (like a deductible resets at the beginning of the year for traditional medical insurance plans).
Applying for short term health insurance is very easy and can be completed online or over the phone with a licensed insurance agent (866-966-9868).
We hope this list of the top 5 health insurance plans will help you in your quest to apply online for short term health insurance.
Short Term Health Insurance Plans
IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT SHORT-TERM PLANS
Short term health insurance plans are not qualified health plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA or “Obamacare”) and do not meet the coverage and benefit requirements of the ACA. Short term health insurance plans are generally less expensive than qualified health plans under the ACA (also called major medical health insurance), but do not offer the same level of coverage. Short term health insurance plans are intended for people who do not want or cannot afford major medical insurance or who want a temporary form of limited coverage before they obtain major medical health insurance. Among other limitations and exclusions, short term health insurance plans generally do not cover pre-existing conditions (health and other conditions that exist at the time of application) or the minimum essential coverage of the ACA (benefits such as mental healthcare, pregnancy, and childbirth, preventive care, etc.).
Short term health insurance plans are limited in duration and you will stop receiving benefits when the plan expires. Plan duration and whether you can renew or buy a new plan after plan expiration depends on the plan you choose and the laws in your state. After a short term plan expires (in some cases, in only 3 months), you must reapply to receive further benefits. If you are accepted for an additional term under a short term health insurance plan, the plan’s deductible and other amounts reset so that amounts paid (or the satisfaction of conditions) under the initial plan are ignored. Similarly, whether you have pre-existing conditions will generally be determined anew as of your approval under the new application. Insurance companies and some state laws limit the number of times a short term insurance policy may be renewed and may restrict your ability to apply for more than one consecutive short term health insurance plan. Please review the plan details and policy terms for the maximum coverage period allowed by the plan you select.
Purchasing a short term insurance plan will make you ineligible for any guaranteed-issue individual health plans commonly referred to as HIPAA plans. Please consult your benefits advisor at 866-966-9868 to discuss your rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other rights under state law.
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