Temporary health insurance plans are all that's available if you don't have coverage or a qualifying event that enables you to enroll in a plan.  Will a temporary policy meet your medical needs?  How do the benefits compare to those of a regular health plan?

 

In California temporary health plans are all pretty similar.  Each short term policy has a deductible that you must meet before the insurance company begins paying for any of your benefits, and an out of pocket maximum that caps the amount you would pay for a major medical expense.

 

Temporary plans are much different from a regular medical plan.  Temporary policies usually don't provide coverage for office visits, prescription drugs, or lab tests until after you meet the deductible.  While regular health insurance plans have copays for these benefits right from the beginning. 

 

Temporary health insurance plans only last for up to 6 months in California.  If you need coverage to last longer than that then you will have to re-enroll to keep your temporary policy.  California will only allow you to be on a temporary health insurance policy for 12 months.  At that point you will have to wait 90 days before you can start a new temporary plan.  California regulators always have to make things difficult here.

 

 

Here in California the short term health insurance options are more limited.  Depending upon what your typical medical needs are, you may be disappointed in getting temporary coverage.

 

Temporary health insurance in California does not work well if you have pre-existing conditions or need expensive brand medications.  Pre-existing conditions are not covered at all, and you would have to pay for your brand medications until you reached the deductible.

 

Temporary health insurance works best if you just want to be protected against large financial expenses associated with a major medical event, and you need to protection to last for no more than 12 months.

 

This makes temporary health insurance ideal if you do not have a qualifying event, or you waited too long to use your qualifying event (over 60 days) to enroll in health coverage.  A temporary health insurance plan can give you protection until the next open enrollment period rolls around in the fall.

 

To find the best temporary health insurance California residents can search for a local broker that provides short term insurance, or search the internet for websites that provide quotes and information about these options.

 

One of the top resources we've found for California is at SPF Insurance in San Diego, CA.  Go there to get more information and quotes.

So remember the best situations for short term protection is if you are between jobs or need a policy for a temporary time-frame.