Best Short-Term Health Insurance Providers

Everest has been underwriting insurance since 1973. The company has a Moody’s insurance financial strength rating of A1 with various policy types on the market, including property, casualty, specialty, accident, and health insurance. They offer policies in 23 states across the country.

A few features of Everest STM include:

• Deductibles of $1,000, $2,500, $5,000, $7,500, or $10,000
• Maximum coverage benefits from $250,000 to $1.5 million
• Coinsurance options are 50/50, 70/30, 80/20, or 100/0 with copays of $30, $40, or $50
• Wellness benefit to take care of preventive medicine

When you get approved, emergency coverage begins the next day, and there's a five-day waiting period for the routine wellness benefit. There is a 30-day waiting period for cancer benefits (cancer must be newly diagnosed 30 days after plan start date) and a six-month waiting period for certain other covered services, such as tonsillectomy, herniorrhaphy, and more. Although Everest does not offer coverage for prescriptions, it does provide discount cards.

Why We Chose It: We chose Everest as best overall for its low deductibles, reasonable prices, and having the most dynamic doctor visit coverage that includes wellness visits, emergency care, and mental disorder care.

UnitedHealthcare underwrites its policies through Golden Rule Insurance Company, a part of UnitedHealthcare since 2003. The company has been selling short-term health insurance for over 30 years, and policies are available in 24 states. UnitedHealthcare has a Moody’s insurer financial strength rating of A1.

You can request a quote on United's website to see what they would charge in your case. In some states, you must join the Federation of American Consumers and Travelers (FACT), and there will be an additional charge of $4 per month as a result. The FACT is a consumer organization that provides savings to members on 20 different benefits and coverages. The length of policies varies from one month to 12 months, with options to renew up to 36 months on the TriTerm Medical plan.

There are STM plans that cover 100% of medical costs after you meet the deductible (0% coinsurance) or options with 20%, 30%, or 40% coinsurance until you reach the annual maximums. You can also customize if your plan needs to include prescription medication.

Maximum benefits range from $500,000 to $2 million and are subject to exclusions, such as maternity care, accident-related events, emergency services, preventive care, hospitalization, pre-existing conditions, and prescription drugs. Coverage begins after you meet the deductible with options of $2,500, $5,000, $7,500, $10,000, or $15,000.

Waiting periods vary depending on the coverage in the plan. There is a six-month waiting period for preventive care benefits. Services related to eligible pre-existing conditions are only covered after 12 months.

Why We Chose It: UnitedHealthcare was our top choice for the longest policy options because it is the only provider with up-to-36-month coverage where allowable by state law.

Pivot Health has been around since 2016, managing over $7 billion in insurance premiums, and is affiliated with Communicating for America, a consumer advocacy group in favor of affordable healthcare for Americans. Pivot Health underwrites its short-term health plans through Companion Life Insurance Company, which has an AM Best financial stability rating of A+ (Superior). Pivot Health is available in 24 states.

Pivot Health has easy-to-use online tools that help you prioritize your insurance needs before it gives you quotes, and it offers you a selection of available features, as well, such as up to 70% off prescription drugs. You will also receive discounts of 15% to 30% off eye exams, frames, lenses, and contacts, making this company stand out for excellent STM value.

You can get a quote on the Pivot website to see what plans they offer in your area and what they charge.

You can choose deductibles between $1,000 and $10,000, and the maximum annual limits range from $100,000 to $1 million. All plans have coinsurance of 20% or 30%, and the maximum out-of-pocket cost for coinsurance is between $3,000 and $10,000.

Examples of some of their common exclusions include pre-existing conditions, immunizations, routine physical exams, and injuries resulting from extreme sports. The waiting periods are five days for illness, 30 days for cancer, and six months for certain specified items like a tonsillectomy.

Why We Chose It: Pivot provides a vast selection of affordable basic coverages and valuable options so that you can get the right policy for the right price, with the ability to add numerous discounts for things like prescription drugs and vision care.

The IHC Group is an organization of insurance carriers operating short-term insurance plans in 35 states, including member insurers such as Standard Security Life, Madison National, and Independence American Insurance Company.

Your policy will be serviced by one of these companies depending on where you live, and some states require membership in Communicating for America, a national non-profit organization whose mission is to promote health and wellbeing through member benefits. AM Best gives an A- (Excellent) financial strength rating to the IHC Group and Standard Security Life.

Request a quote online to see what they offer in your state and how much they'd charge you.

Exploring a range of policies from IHC Group carriers, deductible options generally included $2,500, $5,000, and $10,000. The coinsurance options we found were 20%, 30%, or 50%, with out-of-pocket maximums between $4,000 and $10,000. Plans vary by state, and we found outliers with lower deductibles and higher out-of-pocket maximums.

Supplemental coverage for dental or hospital/surgery insurance can be added to plans, and IHC members are also offered prescription discount plans and telemedicine consultation options.

Common exclusions include pre-existing conditions, including anything treated or consulted upon within five years before coverage became effective. Exclusions are different by state and issuing provider. For example, the Independence American Insurance Company policy we reviewed did not pay benefits for chiropractic care, mental health treatment, or periodic health exams, but did include an option to cover $25,000 for pre-existing conditions such as known illnesses or injuries in the Connect Plus Plan.

Why We Chose It: The IHC Group offers low- to high-deductible options and the ability to add pre-existing condition coverage, making it the most customizable plan provider that we reviewed. You'll also find other supplemental health options like telemedicine and prescription discount plans that improve the standard offerings and allow consumers to pick what is most important to them.