Medically underwritten
An application asks about health history and can be declined or issued with exclusions. ACA Marketplace plans cannot decline you for health history.
Short-Term Health Insurance
Short-Term Health Insurance, Explained
Temporary coverage that can bridge a gap between plans — and the tradeoffs to understand before you apply.
To speak with a licensed insurance agent, call (662) 210-2200. TTY: 711.
The basics
What short-term health insurance is
A short-term health plan is temporary coverage meant to bridge a gap. It exists for the stretch of time between one comprehensive plan ending and another beginning.
It is not built to be a year-round replacement for comprehensive coverage, and it should not be treated as one. Think of it as a stopgap with a defined purpose.
Comparison
How it differs from Marketplace/ACA plans
The differences matter, and they are the main reason we walk through this coverage carefully rather than quoting it in passing.
Fewer required benefits
It may not include every essential health benefit that ACA plans are required to cover, so gaps are possible.
Lower premium, less coverage
The premium is typically lower in exchange for coverage that is less comprehensive. That trade is the whole point of the product.
Fit
Who typically considers it
People usually look at short-term coverage during a transition: between jobs, waiting on employer coverage to start, retiring early but not yet Medicare-eligible, or aging off a parent's plan.
If your situation is one of those, we compare short-term coverage against a Marketplace/ACA plan so you can see both side by side. To speak with a licensed insurance agent, call (662) 210-2200. TTY: 711.
Duration
How long coverage can last
Coverage length is limited, and the limit is set by the specific policy and the rules that apply in your state. Federal rules on maximum duration have changed before and can change again, so we do not quote a number here.
When we review a specific policy together, we will go through the exact terms — how long it can run, whether it can be renewed, and what happens when it ends.
Questions
Short-term coverage questions we hear most
To speak with a licensed insurance agent, call (662) 210-2200. TTY: 711.
This page is general education, not a specific plan or a guarantee of coverage. Terms, duration limits, and underwriting vary by carrier and by state.
Need coverage for a gap between plans? Let's talk it through.
No pressure, no obligation — just a conversation with a licensed insurance agent about the options available to you.
To speak with a licensed insurance agent, call (662) 210-2200. TTY: 711.
Medicare Compliance Statement
This website represents no obligation to enroll. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the government or Federal Medicare program. Magnolia Family Insurance is an independent insurance agency. We represent multiple insurance carriers to help you find the plan that best fits your needs.
Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information. As an independent agency, Magnolia Family Insurance offers comparison services to find the best plan for your needs from multiple carriers. For a complete list of available plans please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week, or consult www.medicare.gov.