The unexpected happens everyday. Someone falls down the stairs, gets injured in a car accident or develops a sudden illness. In a single moment, your world can change.

These unexpected illnesses or injuries can be startling, so can the doctor bills. That's why it's so important to have reliable, temporary health insurance that will cover the medical expenses when the unexpected occurs... that's why you need Short Term Medical.

Short Term Medical is a temporary health plan designed for people who are between permanent health plans. Coverage can be purchased for as few as 30 days or as many as 185 days (varies by state).

Who is eligible:

• Healthy individuals between the ages of 15 days and age 64 and 11 months, who have a temporary insurance need.
• Dependent children through age 20 (age 24 if full-time student) may be covered as dependents on parents' plan.
• Foreign residents living in the U.S. for at least one year with proof of Alien Registration Receipt Card, Green Card, Visa or other appropriate documentation.

Who is not eligible:

• Persons who have not been in the country for twelve months.
• Persons who would be declined for an Individual Medical policy.
• Persons who will turn 65 or become eligible for Medicare during the benefit period.
• Persons who are pregnant.
• Persons seeking coverage while travelling outside of the U.S.
• Persons engaging in hazardous activities, sports or occupations.
• Persons previously declined by another carrier.

Short Term Medical is simple, flexible and affordable. You choose the plan that best meets your needs and budget by selecting from the features below. Best of all, you can obtain coverage as early as the next day!

• Length of Coverage Options: 30-185 days*
• Choice of Deductibles: $250, $500, $1000, $2500*

For families, the maximum deductible you will have to pay is equal to three times the individual deductible amount.

• Rate of Payment (or Coinsurance): 80/20 to $5000

*May vary by state.

The chart below shows you the maximum amount you will be responsible for if a claim is incurred, based on the deductible chosen and the 80/20 to $5000 rate of payment.

Out-of-Pocket Maximum

Since Short Term Medical is not an HMO or PPO plan, you can visit the doctor or hospital of your choice. No referrals are needed, no out-of-network penalties are incurred - the choice is yours!

With Short Term Medical, you choose the payment option that's best for your temporary need.

Single Payment - Ideal if you know the exact length of time coverage is needed. The minimum number of days you can purchase is 30 (60 in MN) and the maximum is 185 days.

Monthly Payment - Ideal if you are unsure how long you need coverage. This "pay as you go" option lets you continue coverage for as long as needed (up to 185 days) or stop payments and discontinue the plan whenever you want. You mCOBRA_Insurancee an initial premium payment for 35, 60, or 95 days. (Minimum is 60 days in MN).

    If you pay your initial payment by:

• Check - you will receive a sheet of payment coupons via the U.S. Postal Service for all subsequent payments. Each month, mail your check along with the coupon to Fortis Health. Each coupon pays for an additional 30 days of coverage. Note: No lapse notices are sent.
  
  
• Automatic credit card debit - each month, your subsequent premium payments will be automatically debited from the credit card information provided with your initial payment. Your card will be debited each month until you have reached a total of six months of coverage. If your temporary need ends prior to the sixth month, simply call 1-800-800-5453 and we will stop the automatic credit card debit. (Please note: 7 days advanced notice is required to ensure future credit card charges are stopped.)

Choose from two convenient payment methods of credit card (Visa/MasterCard) or personal check.

Short Term Medical covers a person for a limited period. If you think you'll need coverage for more than six months, you may want to look at a more permanent health insurance option.

Short Term Medical does not cover pre-existing conditions. It is designed to protect against the unforeseen. If pre-existing conditions were covered under Short Term Medical policies, people could just wait until they were diagnosed with an illness or suffered an injury, buy a policy to cover the treatment, then drop it. The cost of such policies would be prohibitive. Because Short Term Medical is designed to cover the unexpected, it also does not include coverage for preventive care, physicals, immunizations, dental or eye care.

The definition of a pre-existing condition varies by state, but in general, Short Term Medical excludes conditions that have been diagnosed or treated within the previous 5 years. If you have an existing medical condition, you may want to see if extending your current insurance to fill a gap in coverage is an option. Employer-sponsored insurance can be extended under a government-regulated option called COBRA.

Short Term Medical is non-renewable. However, if your temporary need continues, you may apply for another policy if: 1) no claims were incurred under a previous policy, 2) there has been no significant change in health, and if 3) the total days of coverage for all plans does not exceed 365 days.

A new application must be completed. Should a second application be approved, a new plan will be issued. There is no continuous coverage between the original and second plan.

We are confident that our Short Term Medical plan will satisfy your temporary health insurance needs. If you are not completely satisfied with the plan, you can return it within 10 days of delivery for a full refund. No questions asked! Simply put your request in writing and fax it to 414-299-6217 or mail it to: Fortis Health, P.O. Box 3175, Milwaukee, WI 53201-3175.