INDIANAPOLIS (June  30, 2009) –  UnitedHealthcare’s Golden Rule Insurance Company is introducing two new short term health insurance plans in 19 states designed to meet people’s needs for more flexible and cost-effective approaches to coverage.

Golden Rule’s new Short Term Medical^SM Plus and Short Term MedicalSM Value plans are designed to bridge gaps in health insurance coverage for workers between jobs who find COBRA too costly or who aren’t eligible for COBRA, new graduates looking for work, students dropping off their parents’ plans, new employees not yet covered by employer plans, early retirees awaiting Medicare eligibility and others whose lives are in time of transition.

In Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin, consumers can choose from one to12 months of coverage with either of Golden Rule’s new short term plans; and in Arizona, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia, one to six months of coverage is available.  Consumers can then apply for additional months of coverage and consecutive short term plans, in accordance with state law.

“Especially in today’s economy, there is a need for budget-conscious health plans for individuals and families who suddenly find themselves without health insurance through work or school,” Golden Rule CEO Richard A. Collins said. “Life circumstances can change quickly, and with these new plans, we want to give consumers a choice of plan designs, deductibles, months of coverage and payment options so individuals can decide what will best meet their family’s current situation. 

“While most people understand the importance of having health care coverage, many consumers new to the individual market don’t know that there are lower-cost, quality health plans available and how to find them,” Collins said.

In fact, a recent national survey of 1,000 18 to 21 year olds conducted for UnitedHealthcare revealed that although 82 percent of young adults see health insurance as a necessity they cannot ignore, more than half acknowledge that they lack information to make good decisions about coverage once they are no longer covered by their parents’ or college plans (For more information about the survey, visit the Golden Rule online newsroom).

For consumers struggling to fit health care into tight budgets, Golden Rule’s new short term plans feature an expanded choice of deductibles to help keep premiums more affordable. 

Other advantages to consumers include:

• Choice of two plans:
  • Short Term Medical Plus offers a per-term deductible between $250 and $10,000 and is ideal for consumers seeking predictable out-of-pocket expenses
  • Short Term Medical Value offers a per-cause deductible between $250 and $5,000 and  is Golden Rule’s most cost-effective short term coverage
• Network discounts on medical care of up to 40 percent or more before the deductible is met. Consumers have access to UnitedHealthcare’s network of approximately 590,000 physicians and care professionals and more than 4,900 hospitals nationwide.
• Flexibility to discontinue coverage at any time without penalty and have the unused premium returned.
• Ability to apply for consecutive short term coverage after the initial short term plan expires. In Michigan and Arizona, consumers can apply for a renewable plan when short term coverage expires.
• Quick, easy online application at www.goldenrule.com; consumers usually hear back within 24 to 48 hours
• Choice of payment options, including direct monthly billing.

Golden Rule also offers short term health plans in 15 other states – Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Mexico, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wyoming.

A leading provider of health insurance for individuals and families for more than 60 years, Golden Rule became a UnitedHealthcare company in 2003.  UnitedHealthcare’s personal health plans are offered in 40 states and the District of Columbia, and marketed under the UnitedHealthOne brand.

For more information about Golden Rule’s new short term health insurance, consumers can call 1-800-974-4472, visit www.goldenrule.com or contact a local independent insurance broker who offers Golden Rule plans.