Short term health insurance

Find short term limited duration health plans to help bridge gaps in coverage¹

With coverage options lasting from 1 month to nearly 3 years,² short term plans, underwritten by Golden Rule Insurance Company, can provide a temporary solution that helps you get the benefits you want, for the time you need.³

View short term plans by state

Questions? Call 1-866-487-9299

Choose a short term health insurance plan

Shop for a short term health insurance plan that’s available for the time you need.

Short Term Medical plans

Lasting 1 month up to nearly 12 months³

Shop short term plans

TriTerm Medical plans

Lasting nearly 3 years²

See more about TriTerm Medical plans

Is short term insurance for me?

Short term insurance may be the right choice for you if you’re:

Waiting for open enrollment to apply for an Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan
Not experiencing a situation that’s a qualifying life event and you don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to apply for an ACA plan
Waiting for ACA coverage to start

Looking for coverage to bridge you to Medicare
Turning 26 and are coming off your parent's insurance
Between jobs or waiting for benefits to begin at your new job
Healthy and under 65

Waiting for open enrollment to apply for an Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan
Not experiencing a situation that’s a qualifying life event and you don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to apply for an ACA plan
Waiting for ACA coverage to start
Looking for coverage to bridge you to Medicare
Turning 26 and are coming off your parent's insurance
Between jobs or waiting for benefits to begin at your new job
Healthy and under 65

For these situations and many others, short term health insurance, also called temporary health insurance or term health insurance, might be right for you. It can fill that gap in coverage until you can choose a longer term solution.

Why choose short term plans from UnitedHealthcare?

Quick coverage

Get coverage as soon as the day after your application.

Flexible coverage periods

Pick your length of coverage, 1 to nearly 12 months in some states.³ Drop coverage with no penalty if a more permanent health insurance option comes along.

Savings your way

Pick your deductible amount from several options.

Large provider network

Access an extensive network of health care professionals, with 1.7 million physicians and other health care professionals and approximately 6,400 hospitals and other facilities.⁴

See how short term plans can give you more flexibility

Thinking about choosing a short term plan? In dynamic times of change, Short Term Medical plans,¹ may give you the added flexibility you need. With these plans you can:

Find coverage that’s available fast, as soon as the day after application

Pick your deductible amount from several options

Pick your length of coverage, 1 to nearly 12 months in some states³

Drop coverage with no penalty

Apply for another short term health insurance plan when the first one finishes, if needed⁵

Find coverage that’s available fast, as soon as the day after application

Pick your deductible amount from several options

Pick your length of coverage, 1 to nearly 12 months in some states³

Drop coverage with no penalty

Apply for another short term health insurance plan when the first one finishes, if needed³

Shop for a short term plan in your area

What are Short Term Medical Plans?

Video transcript

A somewhat emotional piano tune plays. A blue ribbon flows across the screen and morphs into the UnitedHealthcare logo, and the words “Golden Rule Insurance Co.” appear under it. Under that, the words “Short Term Medical Plans” appears. A bright young woman’s voice comes in.

Voiceover: What do you do when you’re in a time of transition and need health coverage quick?

An airplane with a banner floating behind it appears. The banner reads: “Need health coverage quick?”

Voiceover: Maybe you’ve decided to turn your side hustle into your full-time gig.

An animated “open” sign swings back and forth.

Voiceover: Or you’re coming off your parents' insurance for the first time.

An animated calendar graphic with a coffee mug and a plant appears.

Voiceover: UnitedHealthcare branded Short Term Medical plans are designed for situations like yours,

An animated graphic of a hand holding a UnitedHealthcare insurance card appears next to the words “Designed for situations like yours”

Voiceover: and can provide flexible, budget-friendly coverage that lasts as long as you need,

A piggy bank graphic appears above the words: “flexible, budget-friendly coverage”

Voiceover: from one month to just under a year in some states.

A calendar graphic appears between the words “One month” and “One year”. The music becomes more upbeat and orchestral.

Voiceover: Apply for coverage starting as soon as tomorrow for things like doctor visits, ER visits, hospital stays, labs and even prescriptions with many plans.

Graphics that correspond to each covered item appear as they’re listed.

Voiceover: Plus, get access to the UnitedHealthcare nationwide network of doctors and hospitals

An animated network graphic appears with various health care icons of different sizes connected with lines.

Voiceover: that makes health care available at lower costs.

An animated piggy bank graphic appears with a coin dropped into it.

Voiceover: Short Term Medical plans do not cover preexisting conditions, so keep that in mind when you apply.

A heart graphic appears above the words “Preexisting conditions are not covered”.

Voiceover: Give the uncertain period in your life more certainty with a UnitedHealthcare branded Short Term Medical plan.

The animated airplane graphic appears again, this time towing a banner that reads “Find a Short Term Medical Plan”

Voiceover: Questions? Go to U-H-One.com or call your local health insurance broker.

A final title screen appears with the words “UnitedHealthcare” and “Golden Rule Insurance Co.” next to the UnitedHealthcare logo in the upper left corner. The words “Questions? Go to UHOne.com or call your local health insurance broker” appear in the middle of the screen, to the left of two colorful text bubble graphics. The following words are in fine print at the bottom of the screen: “Underwritten by Golden Rule Insurance Company, a UnitedHealthcare Company. This policy has exclusions, limitation, reduction of benefits, terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For costs and complete details of the coverage, call or write your insurance agent or the company. Short term health insurance plans do not meet all federal requirements to qualify as “Minimum Essential Coverage” for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”). Short term health insurance is medically underwritten and does not cover preexisting conditions. Product availability varies by state. 48283-G-0322”

Short term plans that stand the test of time

Golden Rule Insurance Company, which underwrites UnitedHealthcare branded short term medical insurance, has been offering short term insurance plans for over 35 years

Learn more about short term insurance plans in your area

Frequently asked questions

Read on to learn more details about short term plans and how they work.

Short term coverage will vary, depending on the plan you choose. Check your plan details to learn about coverage for common care and services like these:

Preexisting conditions	Not covered with most short term plans. Check your state’s definition of preexisting conditions for details. Short Term Medical plans are medically underwritten.
Preventive care	Limited preventive care can sometimes be covered.
Prescriptions	Coverage may be available with some plans.
Virtual visits (telehealth)	Coverage for some telehealth services may be included.

With short term health insurance, it’s important to keep in mind you’re not buying an ACA health plan. Here are a couple of ways short term plans differ from ACA plans.

	ACA plans	Short term plans
Are preexisting conditions covered?	Yes. You cannot be denied coverage based on preexisting conditions.	No. You must answer a series of medical questions to apply for coverage. Short Term Medical plans are medically underwritten.
Are essential health benefits are covered?	Yes. Plans are required to cover 10 essential health benefits, including maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance abuse disorder services.	No. There are no specific coverage requirements. Plans vary in what they cover. Check your plan details carefully.

So, it’s true that you may save money by choosing short term health insurance. Just be sure you know what you are buying, and that it’s a good choice for you. For the right situation, short term insurance plans can provide fast, flexible, temporary health insurance coverage that fits your needs.

See more FAQs about short term insurance

Footnotes

The federal tax payment for not having minimum essential coverage no longer applies, but tax penalties may still exist at the state level. Consult your tax advisor for more information. Short term plans are medically underwritten. This coverage is not required to comply with certain federal market requirements for health insurance, principally those contained in the Affordable Care Act. Be sure to check your policy/certificate carefully to make sure you are aware of any exclusions or limitations regarding coverage of preexisting conditions or health benefits (such as hospitalization, emergency services, maternity care, preventive care, prescription drugs, and mental health and substance use disorder services). Your policy/certificate might also have lifetime and/or annual dollar limits on health benefits. If this coverage expires or you lose eligibility for this coverage, you might have to wait until an open enrollment period to get other health insurance coverage. This is not Minimum Essential coverage as defined in the Affordable Care Act and may not cover all Essential Health Benefits in your state. Some Short Term plans are available as association group insurance only to members of FACT, an independent association. Additional membership fees may be required.
In most states, TriTerm plans are 3 terms equaling 3 years minus one day. In IN and OK, the duration is 364 days each term. In SC, the duration is 11 month each term.
Term lengths vary by state.
UnitedHealth Group Annual Form 10-K for year ended 12/31/22.
Some states excluded.

Disclaimer

This coverage is not “minimum essential coverage” as defined by the ACA.

Short Term Medical plans are medically underwritten.

These Short Term Medical plans do not provide coverage for preexisting conditions nor the mandated coverage necessary to avoid a penalty under the Affordable Care Act.

Product design, availability, term length and additional terms vary by state.

This policy has exclusions, limitations, reduction of benefits, and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For costs and complete details of the coverage call (or write) your insurance agent or the company (whichever is applicable).

No individual applying for health coverage through the individual Marketplace will be discouraged from applying for benefits, turned down for coverage, or charged more premium because of health status, medical condition, mental illness claims experience, medical history, genetic information or health disability. In addition, no individual will be denied coverage based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, political affiliation or source of income.

References to UnitedHealthcare pertain to each individual company or other UnitedHealthcare affiliated companies.

Each company is a separate entity and is not responsible for another’s financial or contractual obligations.

Administrative services are provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates.

Products and services offered are underwritten by Golden Rule Insurance Company, Health Plan of Nevada, Inc., Oxford Health Insurance, Inc., UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic, Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New York, Inc.