Short Term Health Insurance and Beating the Affordable Care Act
When open enrollment ends for the year , you have missed signing up, are you out in the cold? Are there more of a variety of options in existence that would assist with an individuals specific need even if the open enrollment was missed? What do you do if you need health insurance sooner? How do you avoid the health insurance tax penalty? There may be situations in which you are not eligible for special enrollment or have to wait for the Obamacare Affordable care act coverage you buy during a special enrollment period to begin.
For those who are in between major medical plans and need coverage fast, temporary health insurance, commonly known as short term health or short term medical, can be a wise option.
Can’t I just go without health insurance?
It may be tempting go without health insurance. It is just a month or two, right? The Affordable Care Act allows individuals who are not otherwise exempt from the individual shared responsibility provision (i.e., mandate) to be uninsured for a single period up to three months each year. Beyond that, you could face a tax penalty (i.e., individual shared responsibility payment).
While it may seem unlikely you will need the benefits while briefly uninsured, going without health insurance can mean you will have to pay all of your medical expenses yourself.
A 2013 study found that $2,168 was the average cost of an emergency room visit for more than 8,000 patients nationwide.Of the top 10 reasons people visit the ER, kidney stones were most expensive and cost an average of $4,247 to treat and upper respiratory infections cost the least with an average of $1,101.
If you become injured or unexpectedly ill, are you prepared to pay for related medical care entirely out of pocket?
What a short term health plans cover when you don’t have an Obamacare plan
Life is unpredictable, even if you are in good health. Should situations you don’t expect to happen become reality, a short term health insurance plan can offer peace of mind that you have benefits to help pay for covered medical expenses until your ACA-compliant qualified health insurance plan takes effect.
Temporary health plans:
- Last as few as 30 days—and up to 364 in some states—which means you could secure benefits through the end of the year. Then, once Obamacare open enrollment begins in the fall, you can buy an ACA-compliant major medical plan that becomes effective Jan. 1, 2017. Note that short term plans are not the same as Obamacare plans.
- Include benefits for unexpected medical care. Covered expenses may include inpatient hospital care, intensive care, outpatient hospital care, outpatient emergency room visits, surgical services and more—benefits will vary by plan.
- May be customized. Choose your deductible and coinsurance percentage, as well as your plan network type, to design the temporary health insurance coverage that works best for you.
- Tend to be economical. Premiums for temporary health insurance plans are typically to be a fraction of ACA-compliant major medical insurance premiums. This may be helpful if you are in a life transition. Rates will vary dependent upon plan selection and other factors. You can get a quick, anonymous quote at www.insuranceshoppingcenter.co
m or call the number at the top of your screen to speak with a certified advisor (i.e., a licensed health insurance producer) who can assist you and answer your questions.
- Can be purchased online, anytime. Shop and enroll 24/7 at sites such as www.insuranceshoppingcenter
.com. The application and approval process takes only a few minutes.
- Begin (almost) right away. Temporary health insurance coverage takes effect as early as the day after application and enrollment. You will not need to wait until the first of the following month for your policy to take effect.
- May be paired with additional benefits. Short term plans can be used with other supplemental products that can help you reduce out-of-pocket expenses, including telemedicine, medica
l gap plans and dental insurance—plans you can keep and use once you enroll in an Obamacare plan.
Can I have a short term plan instead of an Obamacare plan?
It is important to recognize that temporary health insurance plans are not ACA compliant and do not qualify as minimum essential coverage. They are intended for unforeseen circumstances and do not include essential health benefits or preventive care. If you go more than a single period of up to three months without qualified health insurance coverage andare not exempt, you may face a tax penalty. Short term health plans are not guaranteed issue and pre-existing exclusions apply, which means your health history can impact whether or not you qualify for coverage.
Uninsured for the long term? Consider an Obamacare plan
If you need a qualified health insurance plan to avoid a tax penalty or want access to comprehensive health insurance benefits, you may be eligible for a special enrollment period. Special enrollment periods are extended to those amid certain life events (i.e., moving, divorce, marriage, adopting or giving birth to children) and allow you to enroll in an ACA-compliant health insurance plan outside of open enrollment. During a special-enrollment period, qualified health insurance plans may be purchased through a state-based or federally facilitated health insurance exchange or in the private marketplace.
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