Who Offers Short-Term Health Insurance? A Clear Guide to Your Options

Short-term health insurance can feel like a maze: different rules, lots of fine print, and plenty of unfamiliar names. Understanding who actually offers short-term health insurance (and how these plans work) can help you decide whether this kind of coverage makes sense for your situation.

Below, you’ll find an easy-to-follow breakdown of the main places you can get short-term health insurance, what to expect from different types of providers, and how to compare options responsibly.

What Is Short-Term Health Insurance?

Before looking at who offers it, it helps to be clear on what short-term health insurance is.

Short-term health insurance (also called temporary health insurance or short-term medical) is:

• Designed to cover you for a limited period (often a few months, up to about a year, depending on state rules)
• Typically used as a bridge between more comprehensive plans
• Usually not the same as Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans and often does not include all of the same protections or benefits

People commonly consider short-term coverage when they:

• Are between jobs or waiting for new employer coverage to start
• Missed the open enrollment window for a marketplace plan and do not qualify for a special enrollment period
• Need temporary coverage after leaving a group plan or aging off a parent’s plan
• Are new to an area and need something quickly while they explore long-term options

With that in mind, here’s who typically offers these plans.

The Main Places You Can Get Short-Term Health Insurance

Several types of organizations offer short-term health insurance. The most common are:

1. Private health insurance companies
2. Licensed health insurance agents and brokers
3. Online health insurance marketplaces (non-governmental)
4. Membership organizations and associations
5. Specialty health insurance companies focused on limited-duration coverage

Each works in a slightly different way.

1. Private Health Insurance Companies

How traditional insurers offer short-term plans

Many well-known private health insurance companies offer short-term health insurance alongside other products like:

• Individual and family major medical plans
• Medicare-related plans
• Dental and vision coverage

With these companies, short-term health insurance is just one product type in their broader lineup.

What this usually looks like:

• You can apply directly through the insurer’s website or call center.
• You choose a coverage period (for example, 1–3 months, or longer if allowed in your state).
• The company may offer multiple short-term plan options with different deductibles, coinsurance levels, and maximum benefit amounts.

Pros of going directly through an insurance company

• 🔍 Transparent plan details: You can usually read full benefit summaries and exclusions on the company’s site.
• 🧾 Clear billing relationship: You know exactly who your insurer is; this can simplify claims questions and customer service.
• 🧩 Possibility of bundling: Some people prefer to keep health, dental, or other coverage under one insurer for easier management.

Things to keep in mind

• Short-term plans from these companies often do not cover pre-existing conditions.
• Benefits may be more limited than ACA-compliant plans, especially around preventive care, maternity, or mental health.
• Underwriting may be more detailed, and your application can be denied based on health history.

2. Licensed Health Insurance Agents and Brokers

How agents and brokers fit in

Licensed health insurance agents and brokers do not usually provide the insurance themselves. Instead, they:

• Work with multiple insurance companies
• Present you with different short-term health insurance options
• Help you compare coverage details, costs, and eligibility rules

They may work independently, be part of a local agency, or be employed by a larger brokerage firm.

Why people use agents or brokers for short-term coverage

• 🧠 Guidance across multiple companies: Instead of contacting insurers one by one, you can see options from several carriers in one conversation.
• 🗂️ Help matching your situation to a plan: Agents often clarify differences between short-term health insurance and other choices (like COBRA or marketplace plans).
• 📄 Assistance with applications: They can help you navigate medical questionnaires and required disclosures.

What to ask an agent or broker

When you work with an agent or broker, consider asking:

• Which insurance companies offer the short-term plans you’re showing me?
• Are there alternatives (marketplace plans, employer options, COBRA) I should compare against short-term insurance?
• What benefits are not covered in these short-term plans?
• Are these plans renewable or must I reapply if I still need coverage later?

3. Online Health Insurance Marketplaces (Non-Governmental)

What these sites do

Beyond the official government-run marketplaces for ACA plans, there are many private online platforms that:

• Partner with multiple short-term health insurance providers
• Offer side-by-side comparisons of temporary plans
• Allow you to complete most or all of the application online

These platforms act as connectors between you and the actual insurance companies. They usually show plans from:

• Large national insurers
• Regional health insurance carriers
• Specialty short-term insurance providers

How to use online marketplaces wisely

When exploring short-term plans on these sites:

• Confirm who the actual insurer is listed on each plan.
• Compare deductibles, coinsurance, maximum benefits, and exclusions carefully.
• Make sure you’re clear whether you’re viewing short-term plans or ACA-compliant plans; they’re very different types of coverage.

4. Membership Organizations and Associations

Association-based offerings

Some membership organizations, professional associations, alumni groups, or other affinity organizations may give their members access to:

• Short-term health insurance options
• Limited-duration medical plans
• Other supplemental health products

In these cases, the organization usually does not underwrite the insurance itself. Instead:

• A licensed insurer provides the actual coverage.
• The association or group may host information, help with enrollment, or negotiate access to certain plan types.

What to watch for

• Always check which insurance company is behind the plan.
• Review whether enrollment is limited to members only.
• Confirm that the coverage is truly short-term health insurance, not a discount program or fixed-indemnity product that works very differently.

5. Specialty Short-Term Health Insurance Companies

Focused short-term providers

Some insurance companies specialize in short-term health insurance and other limited-duration or limited-benefit products. These may not be household names, but they often:

• Focus on temporary medical coverage
• Offer multiple short-term plan tiers
• Work heavily through agents, brokers, and online marketplaces

Why some consumers consider them

• They may offer more flexible term lengths or unique plan designs within state rules.
• They can be easy to access online, with relatively fast application decisions.

Considerations

• As with any short-term provider, review:
  • What’s covered (doctor visits, urgent care, hospitalization)
  • What’s excluded (pre-existing conditions, maternity, certain prescriptions, or mental health services)
  • How long coverage can last and whether you can reapply

Who Typically Does Not Offer Short-Term Health Insurance

Understanding who rarely or never offers short-term health insurance can also be helpful.

• Government ACA Marketplaces: These platforms focus on ACA-compliant plans, not short-term policies.
• Medicaid and Medicare: These are public health coverage programs, not short-term private insurance.
• Most employers: Employers usually offer group health plans, not short-term individual policies, although they may recommend temporary options if you’re transitioning out of a job.

Comparing Your Short-Term Health Insurance Options

When you look at short-term health insurance from different providers or channels, you’re usually comparing similar building blocks:

• The insurer (who pays claims)
• The network (which doctors and hospitals are considered in-network)
• The benefit design (deductible, coinsurance, copays, maximum benefit)
• The term length (how long coverage lasts)

Here’s a simple summary table to help clarify where you might encounter short-term health insurance:

Key Factors to Check No Matter Who Offers the Plan

No matter where your short-term policy comes from, pay close attention to these areas before you enroll:

1. Coverage and exclusions

• Does the plan cover pre-existing conditions at all? (Many do not.)
• Are routine checkups, maternity care, or mental health services covered?
• How does the plan handle prescription drugs?

2. Cost structure

• Monthly premium (what you pay to keep the plan active)
• Deductible (what you pay before the plan starts sharing costs)
• Coinsurance and copays (your share of covered services after the deductible)
• Out-of-pocket limits (if any)

3. Term limits and renewability

• How long can the policy last in your state?
• Can you extend or reapply easily if you still need coverage later?
• Are there waiting periods for specific services?

4. Provider networks

• Which doctors, clinics, and hospitals are considered in-network?
• Does the plan cover out-of-network care, and if so, how?

When It May Make Sense to Consider Who Offers Short-Term Health Insurance

You might focus on short-term health insurance providers if you:

• Are between jobs and need something to bridge a gap
• Missed marketplace open enrollment and do not qualify for a special enrollment period
• Expect to get more permanent coverage in a few months (for example, starting a new job, turning 65 soon, or planning to enroll in a more comprehensive plan later)

In these situations, it can be useful to:

1. Compare options from at least two sources, such as one major insurer and one independent agent or online marketplace.
2. Make sure you understand how short-term coverage compares to other possibilities you may have, such as COBRA, an ACA marketplace plan (if you qualify for enrollment), or joining a spouse’s or partner’s group plan.
3. Confirm that the company offering the plan is a licensed health insurer in your state.

Putting It All Together

To answer the core question: Who offers short-term health insurance?

• Private health insurance companies design and underwrite most short-term plans.
• Licensed agents and brokers, online marketplaces, and membership organizations typically act as channels that connect you with those insurers and help you compare options.
• Some companies specialize in short-term and limited-duration coverage, while others include it as one part of a larger product lineup.

Short-term health insurance can be a temporary safety net in certain situations, but it is structurally different from comprehensive, long-term health coverage. Understanding who is offering the plan, what it does and does not cover, and how long it lasts can help you decide whether this type of policy fits your needs while you transition to more permanent coverage.