Short Term Health Insurance in Virginia

Short term health insurance or temporary health insurance is designed especially for healthy individuals and families. It serves as a temporary solution while a change might be happening in the life of the insured person. Most of the short term health insurance plans in Virginia last for one to six months and can be renewed for a total of 36 months. The most important thing to remember is that a short-term plan is not designed to cover pre-existing conditions.

Who needs short term health insurance?
Individuals who are temporarily out of work but still need medical cover
Employees who are newly hired and have not been enrolled in a standard group insurance
Recent college graduates who have exhausted their college medical plan
People waiting to qualify for a standard health insurance policy
Those losing dependent status
People on strike, military discharge and early retirees

How does short term health insurance works?

A short-term health insurance policy works like an indemnity plan. This means that you have the freedom to go to any doctor or specialist you like. However, most plans require that you obtain a pre-certification from your insurer before you are hospitalized. To be specific, surgery, hospital care, emergency services, diagnostic tests, prescription drugs, follow-up office visits and even limited mental health care could be included under a short term health insurance policy.

On the flip side, if you make a claim under short term health insurance, the insurer is very unlikely to renew the policy. Instead, a new policy might be offered. At the same time, if you feel that you have bought a wrong policy, you have, with most of the companies, the option of changing it. Most reputable insurers offer a 30-day guarantee of satisfaction and will refund full premium amount.

Advantages of short term health insurance plans:

There are certain benefits that people, who are looking to buy short term health insurance, will enjoy. Some of them are:

It is less expensive than regular medical coverage provided by health insurance plans.
There is no restriction of physicians’ network—you have the freedom to visit any doctor of your choice.
Some insurance companies offer "Certificate of Creditable Coverage" to be used with your next employer's health insurance policy. This helps in making sure that your new group coverage cannot exclude your pre-existing medical conditions.
All eligible dependents such as your spouse and children can be covered.