Through Golden Rule Insurance Company, which became part of United Healthcare in 2003, UnitedHealthcare has been in the personal insurance business more than 75 years and has offered a Short Term Insurance product for over 30 years.

They’re not new to the industry and not looking to take advantage of the latest trends in insurance. UnitedHealthcare has made a commitment to people like you, looking for health insurance coverage solutions. 

UnitedHealthcare offers Short Term health insurance products, with access to a large provider network, that serves a necessary purpose for our customers who are between longer-term health care coverage solutions or simply cannot afford the premiums for plans on the healthcare marketplace.

In general, a Short Term Health Insurance premium is significantly less than that of an ACA plan. For some people, this is one of the most important factors in choosing what’s affordable health insurance to them. But premium shouldn’t be the only cost consideration.

• With an ACA plan, you may be eligible for tax credits or subsidies for which a Short-Term health insurance plan does not qualify. That won’t make an ACA plan anyone’s idea of cheap health insurance, but it may move the price of the plan much closer to your budget.
• Since a Short-Term insurance plan isn’t required to include the 10 essential health benefits defined in the ACA, you can choose a less expensive plan that offers less coverage.
• An ACA plan covers preexisting conditions, but with a Short-Term plan, you should expect to pay the costs related to preexisting conditions without coverage.

What’s the Difference Between Affordable Health Insurance and Cheap Health Insurance?

The difference may be in understanding what you’re getting. Short-term health insurance is not ACA insurance. If you accept the limited benefits and duration of a short-term insurance plan, then it may be affordable health insurance for you that fits a temporary insurance need. If you don’t, it may seem like cheap health insurance that doesn’t have all the benefits you want.

Buying health insurance for short terms may be the right choice for you right now, but it won’t be ACA coverage. Be aware of what you are and aren’t getting for the price.