Before you try a short-term plan, consider the pros and cons:
PROS
- You can buy them any time of year.
- Their premiums are generally lower than major medical insurance plans. The average premium for short-term plans sold by eHealth in California last year was $177 per month, Purpura says.
- They may have broader networks of doctors and hospitals than some plans available from exchanges.
CONS
- They won’t accept you if you have pre-existing conditions, or if they do, they won’t cover them.
- They may not cover benefits such as maternity care, preventive services or prescription drugs. Some may offer drug or dental discount plans, but those aren’t the same as insurance.
- They last less than a year and you have to reapply at the end of each term. There’s no guarantee you’ll be accepted again, especially if you got seriously ill while you had coverage.
