| Short-term health insurance plans allow | | | | These types of illnesses that were made known |
| people to have health insurance for a limited | | | | before a plan was purchased are known as |
| amount of time. It is the type of health | | | | pre-existing conditions. The exact definition |
| insurance that most benefits those who are | | | | of "pre-existing" tends to vary from state to |
| between jobs or who find themselves waiting | | | | state, but it is most commonly assumed that |
| for another form of insurance to start. For | | | | anything that can be traced back to the past |
| example, college graduates and those who have | | | | three years or so will be excluded from the |
| recently been removed from a particular job | | | | plan's coverage. |
| are most likely to use a form of short-term | | | | |
| health insurance. This type of coverage is | | | | While applying for short-term insurance, it |
| available for both individuals and families. | | | | is vitally important that applicants are open |
| While the cost of short-term coverage tends | | | | and honest about any conditions they believe |
| to be much less than long-term plans, many | | | | fall under the category of pre-existing. If |
| people are still not quite sure as to how the | | | | they are not open about something, it may |
| whole process works. If one is going to | | | | come back to haunt them. They may be forced |
| purchase a plan, it is wise to be aware of | | | | to pay out-of-pocket expenses for a |
| what to expect. | | | | particular medical procedure. Short-term |
| | | | health insurance companies are usually quite |
| Most short-term health insurance policies | | | | adamant about not covering any pre-existing |
| generally give the people they cover the | | | | medical conditions. |
| opportunity to visit any doctor or specialist | | | | |
| they like. However, most plans do require | | | | While there are several short-term policies |
| pre-certification, which is an obligation | | | | which are now renewable for up to 36 months, |
| with which people should become familiar. The | | | | many insurers will refuse to issue customers |
| good news for those who are insured via a | | | | a second or third policy if they happened to |
| short-term plan is that several procedures | | | | file any claims under their first policy. On |
| are covered. Some of these include surgery, | | | | the other hand, some insurance companies will |
| hospital care, emergency services, and | | | | offer another policy, but they will not cover |
| prescription drugs. The not-so-great news is | | | | any illnesses or injuries that occurred |
| that there are very often a number of | | | | during the first policy. Most companies that |
| restrictions and conditions which limit what | | | | have solid reputations will offer a 30-day |
| is covered by a short-term insurance policy. | | | | guarantee period of satisfaction. They will |
| | | | allow the customer to get back 100% of their |
| Because of its low cost, short-term health | | | | premium. Of course, they will not honor this |
| insurance does not usually cover routine | | | | agreement if a customer has filed any claims |
| preventative care. For example, things that | | | | during this period. |
| most likely will not be covered are physical | | | | |
| exams, immunizations, and PAP tests. Those | | | | Short-term health insurance is important to |
| who have chosen to purchase this type of | | | | people who want to have medical coverage |
| insurance must remember that it only covers | | | | while they are temporarily out of work or |
| medical situations which occur after the | | | | without insurance for one reason or another. |
| policy is bought. In other words, short-term | | | | Most plans are somewhat flexible, and all of |
| health insurance can never be used to cover | | | | them are usually affordable. The application |
| something that happened or was known about | | | | process and the procedures covered are |
| before the plan was purchased. It is used | | | | relatively easy to understand, thus making |
| solely for unforeseen accidents or illnesses | | | | short-term health insurance a rather |
| that affect customers. | | | | hassle-free acquisition. |
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