Short-term medical plans cover you before Medicare starts.

If you need coverage before you’re 65, short-term medical plans may help.

What can cause a gap in health insurance?

There are many reasons why you may find yourself without health insurance prior to becoming eligible for Medicare. This could include early retirement, losing your job, or losing eligibility as someone’s dependent. If you lose your employer-sponsored health insurance, you may be entitled to continue coverage through COBRA if your employer meets certain requirements. Or, depending on your financial situation, you may be eligible for Medicaid. Also, if you get a new job, you might be eligible for insurance under that employer’s plan. Your other option is to enroll in a short-term medical plan.

  Are these plans right for you?

You can determine if you need coverage by how often you need health care if you have chronic health issues, and what you can afford to pay for insurance.

Short-term medical plans.

Short-term medical plans offer much more flexibility than ACA plans. You can generally enroll at any time and get coverage as soon as the following day. In Illinois, these plans have a maximum length of 180 days, and once the plan period ends, you would need to start a plan with another carrier. These plans can typically be dropped at any time without a penalty. Short-term medical plans also have lower premiums than ACA plans.

Limitations of short-term medical plans.

Because short-term medical plans are not mandated to adhere to ACA guidelines, they do not have to accept everyone who applies. There could be a medical exam or lengthy questionnaire; someone can be turned away or services could be excluded due to pre-existing conditions. Also, these plans can have limited benefits, so it’s essential to fully understand what benefits are included before enrolling.

Contact us to learn more.