The Short Term Insurance

Life is full of transitions, college graduation, periods of unemployment, intentional breaks from jobs or careers, but it is a potentially devastating mistake to go without insurance during a life-transition.

This is where short-term insurance comes in. Short term insurance is similar to a Fee For Service plan that exists on a month by month basis. Similar to a cable bill, if you keep paying you keep health insurance. You can enroll at any time or quit at any time. Most states have laws governing how long you can remain on short term insurance - you can't forever!

Short Term insurance is purchased directly from a company that sells it. Websites like www.ehealthinsurance.com and insurance agencies have more information. In addition the student insurance office in the Pat Walker Health Center has brochures.

Pre-existing Conditions!

One of the most talked about insurance problems is the pre-existing condition.  A pre-existing condition is an illness or injury for which occurred prior to coverage of your current insurance policy. 

For example, you cannot break your leg playing football and then go purchase insurance. The leg break is a pre-existing condition and is not covered by the insurance if you did not have insurance when the leg break occurred. 

Of course it gets more complicated...

Pre-existing conditions can be a condition you suffer for your entire life like high blood pressure or diabetes.  Not seeking treatment is not an excuse for coverage because the law says a condition is a pre-existing condition if a reasonable person WOULD HAVE gone to the doctor for your illness/injury.

What does this have to do with short-term insurance?

Continuation of Coverage. Applicable Federal Laws state that a condition can not be considered pre-existing if a continuation of coverage exists. Continuation of coverage means constant insurance coverage, no gaps. This potentially means if you are discovered to have diabetes as a 4 year old and go without insurance for one month after college, you could be denied coverage on your diabetes as a pre-existing condition once you purchase insurance. 

This highlights the importance of short-term insurance. Short-term insurance can be purchased to fill in those gaps that can and do occur in insurance coverage protecting you from the financial ills of pre-existing conditions.