Insurance World

In most “first world” countries like England, France, and Canada; every man, woman, and child receives basic health care from the government. This makes the business of private health insurance redundant in those countries. However, in America things are a bit different. In the United States, many citizens do not have health coverage at all due to the high cost of medical care and the rates and premiums that the private corporations offering health insurance charge their customers. This means that many people can not afford to see doctors as often as they should for routine care, do not get the prescriptions they need to be fully functional members of society, and struggle to get back on their feet after the financial blow of a necessary surgery or other emergency medical procedure.

As a way to put an end to this situation, many places in America offer special assistance programs that help low income families get the health care coverage they need. Families that are living below the poverty line can often get health insurance at lower than market rates through the health department of a state, city, or county. Depending on the specifics of a given situation and the rules of a particular program, families that have income well above the poverty line can qualify for at least some level of financial assistance. To find out if you and your family may be able to get the care you need at prices that are more affordable than what you are paying today, spend some time on the website of your local branch of government. Many large cities and most states have all of the details of their eligibility requirements for family health insurance assistance programs available online, and some even allow you to print the necessary paperwork for your application right off the web.

Although the United States may not have the kind of comprehensive, government-run health coverage for all of its citizens that other countries have opted for, in most places there are government sponsored programs that help those who cannot afford to pay for their own medical care at market rates. Even people who don’t qualify for this kind of subsidized care can take advantage of the free clinics that operate in most major metropolitan areas. Different clinics offer a wide variety of services that range from pregnancy testing to flu shots; so if you are looking for a way to avoid paying steep hospital bills consider what the clinics in your area may be able to offer you. The combination of subsidized family health insurance and free clinics means that almost every family in America can afford at least some level of medical attention.

If you are between jobs or are awaiting another health insurance policy to come into effect you may find that you have a gap in your health insurance coverage. This period is a high risk as you are effectively uninsured when it comes to health insurance. So what are you to do in this interim period? Well one of the best options in such situations is to consider taking out a short-term health insurance policy. This will cover you for a limited or fixed term.

Usually, short-term health insurance policies last for periods of less than six months. There are policies that will cover you for up to twelve months also however. If you need coverage for periods longer than this, you should probably be considering standard individual or family health insurance plans.

Application is Simple

One of the benefits of short-term health insurance is that the application process is somewhat more straightforward. These policies are really designed to cover unforeseen accidents and other emergency situations and are not recommended for comprehensive health protection. They will therefore generally not cover such advanced features as preventive treatments, physical and diagnostic tests, immunizations, dental and vision expenses which you should try to avoid for the period under which you are covered by the short term plan.

The main concern, and something you should be aware of if you are considering a short term plan is that they will make you ineligible for guaranteed issue health plans. These plans are most commonly referred to as HIPAA plans. They can be very expensive and are used in cases where the insured has existing medical conditions, which would otherwise make it very difficult for you to obtain health insurance. If you think you will need eligibility for a HIPAA plan, you should not purchase short-term health insurance. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPAA, and state health insurance rights are important protections and you should seek advice from a benefits advisor in these regards.

Are you covered?

Short-term health insurance plans will not cover existing medical conditions. While the exact definition depends on your circumstances and on state laws, what this means is that if you have been diagnosed in the last three to five years or have been receiving treatment for a condition, it will be a pre-existing condition and you will not get coverage for it under your short term plan. Therefore, if this applies to you, it is recommended that you extend your current comprehensive policy rather than switch to a short-term plan.