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Service · Short-Term Health

Short-Term Health Insurance

Bridge coverage when you need it, between jobs, after retiring early, while you wait for Medicare to start at 65, or after losing employer coverage. We help you compare short-term plans alongside ACA marketplace options and pick the right tool for the gap.

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What's covered when we sit down together

No two situations are the same.

  • Side-by-side review of short-term medical plans in your state
  • Comparison alongside ACA marketplace plans (sometimes the better choice)
  • Guidance on subsidies you may qualify for under the ACA
  • Plain-English explanation of what's covered and what's not
  • Confirmation that your doctors are accepted (where applicable)
  • Enrollment help and follow-through
How we work

From the first phone call to your enrollment.

  1. 01

    A 10-minute phone call

    We learn what you're bridging, early retirement, job change, COBRA running out, waiting on Medicare, and how long.

  2. 02

    We come to your home (or chat by phone)

    Short-term coverage is often time-sensitive, so we move quickly. We can do this at your kitchen table, by phone, or over a video call, whatever works.

  3. 03

    You decide

    If a short-term plan fits, we enroll you. If an ACA marketplace plan is better, we'll tell you that and help you sign up there instead.

Short-term isn't the right answer for everyone

We'll be honest: short-term health plans are a specific tool for a specific job. They're cheap and fast to enroll in, and that's their appeal, but they have real limits.

Short-term plans usually do NOT cover:

  • Pre-existing conditions

  • Maternity care

  • Mental health (or only minimal coverage)

  • Prescription drugs (or limited coverage)

  • Preventive care without cost-sharing

They tend to be a good fit when:

  • You're healthy and bridging a short gap (a few weeks to a few months)

  • You're between jobs and your next employer's coverage starts soon

  • You're retiring slightly before Medicare and want to avoid a coverage gap

  • COBRA is unaffordable and an ACA plan won't kick in fast enough

They tend to NOT be a good fit when:

  • You have a chronic condition or take regular medications

  • You'll need coverage for more than a few months

  • You qualify for ACA subsidies (a marketplace plan is usually cheaper and more comprehensive)

  • You're approaching Medicare eligibility and could just enroll early

We sit down and figure out which bucket you're in. If a short-term plan is right, we'll help you enroll. If it isn't, we'll point you to the right alternative.

Common questions

Answered straight.

  • Is short-term health insurance the same as ACA / Obamacare?

    No. Short-term plans are a separate product. They typically have lower premiums, but they don't have to cover pre-existing conditions, they often exclude maternity and prescription drugs, and they're not eligible for ACA subsidies. They're a tool for short coverage gaps, not a long-term replacement for ACA coverage.

  • How long can I stay on a short-term plan?

    Federal rules cap initial terms at 4 months with the option to renew once for a total of up to about 8 months. Some states have stricter limits. We'll tell you what's allowed in your state.

  • I'm retiring at 62 and Medicare won't start for 3 years. What do I do?

    That's exactly the situation short-term and ACA coverage are designed for. For a 3-year stretch, an ACA marketplace plan is almost always the better answer, and you may qualify for substantial subsidies based on your retirement income. We'll run the numbers with you.

  • I lost my job. COBRA looks expensive. Are there better options?

    Often, yes. Losing employer coverage opens a Special Enrollment Period for ACA marketplace plans, and if your income has dropped, you may qualify for subsidies that make a marketplace plan cheaper than COBRA. A short-term plan may also work for a brief gap. We'll compare all three.

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