Temporary health insurance in for Texas residents can be used for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to:
1) A person in between jobs as a short term medical insurance can be much less expensive than COBRA.
2) A person waiting for employer benefits to begin.
3) A person who is a seasonal or temporary employee.
4) A younger person who is no longer eligible to remain on their parents’ plan.
5) Someone who is waiting for the underwriting process to be completed on a longer term private health insurance plan
A short term medical plan can provide coverage for as little as 30 days up to 12 full months depending on the insurance carrier and the coverage can be cancelled at any time if other, more attractive benefits become available.
These plans typically will not cover pre-existing conditions and are mainly used for “new” medical expenses. Most temporary plans also do not have co pays for doctor visits. You will have a deductible to meet and once met, the plans will either cover 100% thereafter or an 80%/20% split until you spend another few thousand dollars before it covers 100% thereafter.
One point that is paramount above all others is that a temporary health insurance plan in Texas may not count as “credible coverage” with certain carriers and you may be subject to a 12 month waiting period on pre-existing conditions when your longer term plan begins. If you have certain pre-existing conditions that must be covered, make sure that the insurance carrier you choose after your temporary has completed will recognize the temporary insurance coverage as credible and waive the 12 month pre-existing clause on the new plan.
In Texas, the carriers that offer temporary or short term medical insurance are as follows: 1) BCBS of Texas 2) United Healthcare 3) Humana One and 4) Assurant Health.
Selected Benefits works with each of these carriers and can place you with the most competitive plan that fits your needs. If you have questions about temporary health insurance coverage and how it would affect, if at all, pre-existing conditions, please call us at 866.270.6209.