Temporary Health Insurance Between Jobs: Your Options
Consider the risks of going without health insurance for even a couple of months. Accidents, prescription needs, and ongoing medical treatments could become costly without coverage.
While this situation might seem temporary, maintaining health insurance between jobs is essential to avoid high costs from unexpected injuries or illnesses.
You have three ways to cover an insurance gap:
- COBRA Insurance Option ($$$$$)
Covers Pre-existing Conditions
Use COBRA to continue your most recent employer’s health plan for a limited time. - Affordable Care Act Plan ($$$)
Covers Pre-existing Conditions
Choose from a variety of ACA-compliant plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace. Similar to work insurance, ACA covers essential health services. - Short-Term Medical Plan – Gap Coverage ($$)
New Accident & Illness Coverage Only
Short-term medical plans provide an affordable option if COBRA is too expensive or unavailable.
View the available medical coverage plans in your state:
Short-Term Health Plans
Short-term health plans provide temporary major medical coverage for new illnesses and emergencies during a gap between health plans. Benefits for pre-existing conditions are excluded, and generally, these plans are ideal for individuals in good health.
Flexible Health Coverage Option
You can use any doctor or clinic
Choose Your Coverage Start Date!
Any Questions? Contact Us
877-262-7241
Monday – Thursday, 6 a.m. – 6 p.m., EST.
Friday, 6 a.m. – 4 p.m., EST.
Temporary Health Insurance
Term Health Insurance offers cost-effective, temporary coverage, ideal for bridging gaps between jobs and health plans.
Types Of Term Health Insurance
Short-term health plans are available for one month to one year. YYou may cancel at any time, and many plans start up the next day.
Short-Term Medical Plan
Provides coverage for new illnesses or unexpected accidents. Great for those in good health.
Accident Only Coverage
An affordable option to cover new injuries or accidents that arise. Pre-existing conditions do not exclude you from enrolling in Accident Only medical insurance.
Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions
Marketplace ACA Obamacare
Affordable Care Act Marketplace plans cover pre-existing conditions, providing a reliable health care coverage option when you’re between jobs. These plans not only guarantee acceptance regardless of medical history but also include benefits like prescription medications, wellness exams, emergency services, and other essential health benefits.
Among alternatives to COBRA, marketplace health insurance plans have no time limits, offer access to a wide network of providers and extend coverage regardless of age, gender or health condition. As roughly 80% of participants receive some form of government subsidy, costs tend to be affordable, whether you intend to use this plan long-term or for a few months in between jobs.
Should You Start New Employer Health Insurance, you have the flexibility to cancel this plan, aligning your coverage with your changing circumstances.
Some People Can Get Health Insurance For $10/Month. Depending on your state of residence and your income, you may qualify for a subsidy for a fully qualified health plan that may be low to no cost.
Employer COBRA
COBRA insurance covers pre-existing conditions, including prescription drug benefits, retroactively to the date you lost your employer plan. Your deductible also rolls over, and you can continue seeing the same medical providers for the time being. Additionally, you will still have access to your HSA account.
Approx. $500 – 800/mo
Getting COBRA Between Jobs
The COBRA Act compels companies with 20 or more workers to allow workers to continue on the employer health plan by paying the entire premium.
Your employer or their third-party administrator should offer you the option to continue your previous work plan within 45 days. You will have 60 days to enroll or waive your right to COBRA.
Is COBRA Unavailable?
If COBRA is not available to you or too expensive, you may register an account with COBRAinsurance.com and review short-term medical or accident only insurance plans.
Gap Health Insurance Options Available for Short-Term Needs
Gap Health Plans, or short-term health insurance, provide temporary coverage for people moving between major medical plans. These plans offer financial protection against unexpected injuries or illnesses. They are helpful when changing jobs or waiting for new insurance to begin.
While they remain affordable and allow for quick activation, they usually exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions. Gap Health Plans are great for healthy people. They offer a temporary and affordable way to avoid high medical bills. This is especially useful for those without regular health insurance.
Short-Term Medical Plan
Flex Term Health Insurance covers unexpected injuries and new illnesses to protect you from costly medical bills.
The pricing for the plans starts at $85/ mo
Based on age and state availability
Key Benefits
- Temporary Health Coverage: This plan provides short-term insurance during transitions, like between jobs or while waiting for other coverage, with terms from one month to a year.
- Flexible Plan Options: Choose from various options with different deductibles and coverage limits to meet immediate needs.
- Coverage Gaps: While offering protection for unexpected medical events, short-term plans may exclude pre-existing conditions, have higher out-of-pocket costs, and offer limited benefits compared to long-term insurance.
Accident Only Coverage
Plans start at $44/month.
Based on age and state availability
Includes Telehealth giving you access to prescribing doctors for common issues.
Key Benefits
- Accident-Focused Protection: This plan provides essential financial assistance for medical expenses caused by accidental injuries. It includes coverage for emergency treatment, hospitalization, and follow-up care, ensuring you have access to necessary medical support when an accident occurs.
- Supplemental Coverage: Designed to work alongside your existing health insurance, this accident-only plan offers additional support for unexpected injuries. However, it does not cover illnesses or routine medical care.
- Limited Scope of Benefits: Coverage under this plan is strictly limited to accidents, excluding expenses related to illnesses, pre-existing conditions, or non-accidental injuries. For complete protection, consider pairing it with broader health insurance.
Limited Indemnity Plan
Plans start at $44/month.
Based on age and state availability
Includes Telehealth giving you access to prescribing doctors for common issues.
Key Benefits
- Core Health Benefits: This plan offers limited indemnity coverage that pays a set amount per day or per service for specified medical expenses, such as hospital stays and doctor visits, helping to reduce out-of-pocket costs for routine healthcare needs.
- Fixed Payout Structure: The coverage provides predetermined payouts for covered services, which means the plan pays a fixed amount regardless of the actual costs incurred, making it a budget-friendly option for managing basic medical expenses.
- Coverage Limitations: While providing essential coverage for routine and preventive care, this plan does not cover major medical expenses or catastrophic events, and the benefits are capped, limiting the total amount the policy will pay.
Other Medical Coverage
Don’t miss out on other essential health benefits. Sign up for private dental and vision insurance to complement your existing coverage.
Check out these additional plans that are available to you and your family.
Dental Insurance
Ameritas Private Dental Plans
Plans start at less that $1/day.
Based state availability
The Core Dental Insurance plans can provide coverage for preventive, basic and major dental expenses with the dentist of your choice. Also, some plans include additional benefits like vision, hearing, orthodontia, teeth whitening, Dental Rewards® and more.
Core Dental Insurance is a private Ameritas Dental Plan.
Vision Plans
Plans start at $5/month.
Based state availability
EyeMed is the leading vision insurance company in the United States. Its network of over 44,000 independent and retail in-network providers includes thousands of national retail providers like LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, and Target Optical. This gives EyeMed members access to a wide range of vision care services at affordable prices.
Telehealth
Teladoc is a Telehealth service that offers round-the-clock access to a network of U.S. Board Certified doctors for diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and prescription refills for common health concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do for health insurance between jobs?
When changing jobs, think about COBRA. It helps you keep your old employer’s health plan. You can also look for short-term health insurance. This is a good temporary option. Another choice is to check the marketplace for full coverage. Each choice offers benefits depending on your health needs and budget.
Is opting for COBRA coverage between jobs a good idea?
COBRA allows you to maintain your existing employer-sponsored health insurance after leaving a job. It offers the advantage of uninterrupted coverage but may be more costly as you’ll pay the full premium. Evaluate if the comprehensive benefits justify the higher cost compared to other short-term options.
How can I maintain health insurance after leaving my job?
After leaving a job, you can keep your health insurance with COBRA. You can also sign up for a plan through the health insurance marketplace. Another option is to consider short-term health insurance. Each option provides a way to stay covered, with varying costs and coverage lengths.
Are term health insurance plans expensive?
Term health insurance, or short-term health insurance, is typically less expensive than traditional health plans. The lower price is due to less coverage and a shorter policy, making it a budget-friendly option for job gaps.
Why is short-term health insurance less expensive?
Term health insurance, or short-term health insurance, is typically less expensive than traditional health plans. The lower price is due to less coverage and a shorter policy, making it a budget-friendly option for job gaps.
How can I address a gap in my health insurance coverage?
If you need health insurance, think about short-term plans for quick coverage. For longer needs, look at marketplace plans. You can also use COBRA to keep your old employer’s coverage for a while. Each option offers a solution based on your coverage needs and financial situation.
What are the qualifying events for a special enrollment period?
- Getting married
- Having, adopting, or placement of a child
- Medical Child Support Orders (MCSO) issued by state or federal court
- Permanently moving to a new area that offers different health plan options
- Losing other health coverage because of a job loss, divorce, or loss of eligibility for Medicaid or CHIP.
- People in an Insurance Marketplace may have changes in their income or household situation. These changes can affect their eligibility for tax credits or cost-sharing assistance.
Contact Us
We can help you find an affordable health insurance plan before your next major medical health coverage begins.
Schedule Call / Add To Calendar
Choose Date And Time
Recognition From HealthCare.gov
Request More Information
Short-Term Health Insurance Options During Job Transition
Remain Insured
Accident Only plans start at $44*
with coverage starting tomorrow!
Call us
877-262-7241
Get A Quote, Enroll Online
View Plans
Temporary health insurance is a popular, affordable solution to cover gaps in coverage while you are between Major Medical plans.
*Eligibility for short term medical insurance is based on age and state availability.
