A Guide to Short Term Health Insurance Providers

When it comes to short term health insurance, there are many more options available today then there were just a few years ago. Cobra is an option that many of us have today that is provided by our employer. It provides a continuation of group health insurance benefits when we lose our job, or our hours may be reduced making us ineligible for company insurance benefits. This is the best insurance option available, I believe, as it is a continuation of our current policy. We don't have to go hunt for another insurance if we're covered by Cobra. As good as Cobra is, it is also the most costly form of a temporary insurance. What your employer used to contribute to your insurance is discontinued, and you have the whole responsibility of paying for it yourself. Some of us can't afford this, which was my situation, a few years ago, so I had to seek out another source of temporary health insurance until I was eligible for Medicare. I have made a list of 5 temporary health insurance providers and some of benefits they provide.

1. Amigo-This is the only temporary health insurance plan that provides a copay for an urgent care facility. If you go to urgent care, you don't have to pay a deductible, just a $50.00 copay and you're covered. There are no out of network penalties, and you have the freedom to choose doctors and hospitals. There is no application fee with this policy and eligibility is 2 to 64 years.

2.Celtic-This is a non-renewable policy for 1 to 6 months only. The deductible is $250. to $1000., depending on the policy you purchase. After the deductible is satisfied, it pays 80% of the next $5000, and 100% up to 2000,000. This is one the most inexpensive, yet flexible temporary health insurance plans.