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The time is now for a short-term medical plan

Lost your job and your health coverage? Missed Open Enrollment?

Florida Blue is here for you with short-term medical plans — from one month to 364 days.

Protects you in case of medical emergencies.
Offers basic, affordable health coverage.
Provides a fast, budget-friendly solution.

Call 1-800-352-2583

Short-term health insurance: because life happens

Life doesn’t always go according to plan. You may be experiencing a temporary gap in health coverage if you’re:

In between jobs

Waiting for Open Enrollment

Not eligible for a Special Enrollment Period

Counting down the days until you’re eligible for Medicare

Turning 26
(losing parent’s health insurance)

Not willing or able to pay for COBRA insurance

Short-term health insurance is made to help bridge the gap until you can find a more comprehensive health plan.

Life doesn’t always go according to plan. You may be experiencing a temporary gap in health coverage if you’re:

In between jobs
Waiting for Open Enrollment
Not eligible for a Special Enrollment Period
Counting down the days until you’re eligible for Medicare
Turning 26 (and you’re losing parent’s health insurance)
Not willing or able to pay for COBRA insurance after losing your job

Short-term health insurance is made to help bridge the gap until you can find a more comprehensive health plan.

What does short-term health insurance cover?

Florida Blue offers affordable short-term health plans to cover healthcare expenses like:

Ambulatory services (outpatient care)
ER services
Hospitalization
Doctor visits for minor illnesses and injuries¹
Laboratory services
Maternity and newborn care (only if a rider is purchased)²

Basic facts to know about short-term health plans

Short-term health plans — also known as temporary health insurance or short-term medical plans — are generally for healthy people under 65 years of age.
Unlike major medical coverage (such as Marketplace/ACA health plans), short-term plans do not cover pre-existing conditions.
Medical history can affect your eligibility for purchase of a temporary plan.

What short-term health insurance does provide is peace of mind and essential coverage in case of medical emergencies.

Short-term health plans have pros and cons

	Pros	Cons
	Are available year-round	Are not required to cover Marketplace (ACA) essential benefits
	Are a cost-effective option (especially when compared to COBRA)	Do not cover pre-existing conditions
	Are easy to enroll in	Are not eligible for ACA subsidies

Short-term health plans aren’t meant to replace comprehensive health coverage.
They’re a temporary, budget-friendly solution.

During a transitional time in life, short-term health insurance can be a real lifesaver. Call a licensed Florida Blue agent today.

Call 1-800-352-2583

Frequently asked questions

Any condition which you were diagnosed, consulted, or treated for within the last 24 months.

Common pre-existing conditions not covered by short-term insurance plans include:

Cancer (oncology)
New or abnormal growths (neoplasms)
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Diabetes
Heart condition
Substance dependency

Short-term health plans³ do not cover:

Medical care for health conditions or injuries that a member has been treated, consulted, or diagnosed for in the past 24 months before the plan’s start date (also called pre-existing conditions)
Mental health and substance abuse services
Adult wellness checkups and preventive care (Preventive care is covered for children up to age 17. The only covered adult preventive care is an annual mammogram.)
Maternity or newborn coverage (However, you can purchase an insurance rider to add this coverage.)
Habilitative services, like physical, occupational, or speech therapy
Traditional pharmacy coverage with copays and coinsurance
Dental and vision care

Short-term health plans typically would only cover pregnancy and delivery if you purchased an add-on insurance rider, which you can do through Florida Blue.

Not all plans cover all services so talk with your agent to ensure you get the plan that is right for you.

Yes. Florida Blue short-term health plans are available when you need them, including before and after the Open Enrollment Period with multiple effective date options.

Outside of the annual OEP, it’s possible to enroll in health coverage (or switch plans) if you qualify for an SEP, which is a short time surrounding a qualifying life event. Examples include:

Losing your health coverage that meets minimum essential coverage (loss of coverage on short-term health plans does not quality)
Having a baby
Getting married or divorced
Moving to a new ZIP code

When in doubt, you can always ask a Florida Blue agent about whether you’re experiencing a qualifying life event.

¹Florida Blue members with short-term health plans can buy a separate rider to cover maternity and newborn care. When planning for your special delivery, it’s important to know that the rider must be in place for at least 30 days before a pregnancy occurs. Your coverage under this rider will end when your short-term health plan coverage ends.

²Services related to a pre-existing condition may not be covered. Short-term insurance plans cover medical care for conditions that come up after the plan’s effective date. If you’re treated for an injury, illness, or ongoing health condition that you had in the past 24 months before your plan’s start date (also called a pre-existing condition), you’ll pay the full cost of any care that you need. This means, even if you had prior coverage where pre-existing conditions were covered, they won’t be covered with a short-term insurance plan.

³Not all plans cover all services so talk with your agent to ensure you get the plan that is right for you.

Policies have limitations and exclusions. The amount of benefits provided depends upon the plan selected and the premium may vary with the amount of benefits selected.