Getting Short Term Health Insurance In Between Jobs

By Amy Kitchel


There are so many times in our lives when we find ourselves in transition; maybe you are in between jobs or just starting a new one, maybe you just graduated from college and are starting out on your own. In any of these transitions in life its important that you remember one thing; health insurance. It might seem like something that should be low on your list - but don't skip out on this super important piece of your life.

When your life is in transition it's not convenient to stop and think about health insurance. Instead of pushing it off to the side and hoping nothing bad happens to you, take a few minutes and read this essential information. Without health insurance you leave yourself open to catastrophically high medical bills and to problems getting coverage in the future because of present lapses or conditions you may become aware of in this transition time.

Since health insurance is so important for every stage of your life, during these times in between it is important to figure out first what type of insurance is best for you and your personal situation, especially since it will just be for the short term. If you have just left a job, you should find out about buying back your COBRA from your former employer. Buying your COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) health-insurance option means you will continue the health insurance coverage and benefits you had with your former employer by paying the monthly fees for this coverage out of pocket.

If this not an option, or if you are starting new and don't have a former employer, or if you're just retired, just discharged from the military or a worker on strike, a short-term health insurance policy is your best bet. This type of policy is designed to carry you over from one policy to another, to help you stand in a health insurance gap temporarily.

Short-term health insurance policies allow you the flexibility to see the doctors and specialists you need and prefer without restriction provided you pay the deductibles. These plans cover most surgeries, ER visits, diagnostic tests, prescription drugs, follow-up office visits and some mental health care. If you require extended hospital care, short-term policies require you get a waiver signed before hand in order to make sure that they will cover the sometimes exorbitant costs of these stays.

While many short-term policies are usually renewable for a total of 36 months, keep in mind that if you file a claim under your short-term policy your insurer will likely not renew the policy again. They might offer you another policy, but they will treat any injuries or illnesses that occurred during your previous short-term policy as a pre-existing condition.

The final option for health coverage in a transition time is catastrophic health insurance. This type of policy is generally has an affordable monthly premium and a high deductible for any medical incident. It is useful to young, healthy individuals who don't require medical care on a regular basis but it does cover medical catastrophes (as the name suggests) and provides an emergency safety net so you are not left with thousands upon thousands of dollars in medical bills if the worst happens.

Do some research and determine which plan is right for you when you are in a time of transition in your life. Having appropriate life insurance and the right amount of coverage is important, leaving you safe from major financial problems in the event of medical emergencies.




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