Short Term Health Insurance In Columbus Ohio

Thanks to recent insurance legislation changes, short term health insurance is proving to be a very attractive option for those who are looking for immediate solutions for health care coverage in Columbus.  So far, 2024 has been a year in which a lot of U.S. families are discovering that a traditional health plan is simply not an option.  For most, the reason is affordability.  A short term plan can meet a family's health insurance needs while being more reasonably priced.  Also, short term health insurance plans are not so "short" anymore.  In Columbus Ohio, you can purchase a short term health insurance plan, and keep it for at least a year, perhaps as long as three years.  Use the link above to run an instant quote to see rates and term lengths for where you live.

What is Short Term Health Insurance?
The first thing to do is define short term health insurance.  There are two parts to this: What short term insurance was, and what short term insurance is today.

Initially, short term health insurance was designed just for short term situations.  As the name implies, it was a health insurance plan with a short term duration, which ranged from several months to a year.  This type of insurance was for individuals who needed temporary medical insurance or could not afford traditional health insurance.  It was used mostly by employees who frequently changed jobs, employees waiting for their group health insurance plan to kick in, students going out of state to college, or young adults searching for their own insurance because they were no longer covered under their parent's plan.
Insurance coverage was strictly for hospitalization.  Doctor visit benefits, preventative services, or prescription drug benefits, were unheard of.

Things have changed.  Some short term health insurance plans now offer doctor visit copay benefits, preventative services, prescription drug benefits, and more.  There are now short term plans that can be held for up to three years before a new application is needed.  The benefit structure is starting to look a lot like traditional health insurance plans.

The Columbus Ohio community has noticed.  Short-term health insurance is becoming an ideal health insurance solution for a growing number of Ohio families.

Short term health insurance is not for every circumstance.  It lacks several of the guaranteed benefits that are part of the Affordable Care Act portfolio of plans.  However, There are several notable advantages.

Advantages

• Short Term Plans Can Be Considerably Less Expensive

Compared with standard ACA plans, which can run even healthy individuals around $400-plus dollars every month, short-term health insurance plans average less than $100 a month, with some options being as low as $70-$80.
Of course, the amount of coverage offered depends on the price. You obviously won’t get the same amount of coverage with even a more-expensive $100 plan as you would with an ACA option. This is why short-term health insurance plans are being increasingly sought by healthier individuals who don’t require all the coverage mandated by the ACA.
For individuals, especially, short-term health insurance plans offer a nice way out of one-size-fits-all healthcare packages with exorbitant premiums. It’s recommended that you look at each plan in detail to make sure you are getting the coverage you need for your individual situation.

• Renewable

In Ohio, short-term health insurance plans are renewable.  Individuals seeking a refuge from high ACA premiums can do so for two-to-three years under current policy.  Though this ultimately may satisfy long-term demand, it provides a medium-range option that may prove more viable than traditional ACA plans for individuals or families who don’t qualify for government subsidies.
Most companies will allow individuals to renew existing plans without changes.  This means customers can enjoy up to three years of medical insurance with the plans they choose.

• No Open Enrollment

Unlike the Affordable Care Act insurance plans, short-term health insurance plans require no open enrollment.  Those seeking these plans simply need to sign up and be approved to gain nearly instant access to medical insurance coverage.  Typically, short-term insurance plans begin coverage within one to fourteen days of being approved, whereas ACA plans can take between two and six weeks to go into effect.
Despite there being no set window period for enrollment, many short-term insurance companies opt to take part in open enrollment periods, if only to create awareness for their plans.  If you plan on participating in this year’s open enrollment, pay attention for these companies and see if their alternative plans are right for you. If you don’t wish to wait, however, keep in mind that short-term insurance is offered year long, so you never have to worry about missing an open enrollment period.

Good to know:  Shop Generic Drugs.  If you're looking to reduce your medical bills and reduce out of control medical spending, you can start by shopping generically.  Consumers tend to think of generic options as less effective or even as harmful.  This is not the case, however, when it comes to generic prescription drugs.  Though these alternatives may not be as flashy as the name-brand drugs advertised on commercials, they treat patient illnesses just as effectively for only a fraction of the cost.  You can increase your drug savings even more by shopping in preferred pharmacies or online at vendors such as GoodRx.  These options allow you access to a wide range of generic and name brand drugs at lower costs.  Preferred pharmacies take the extra step of reducing dispensing fees, saving you even more money on your next drug purchase.  For this reason, it's worth seeing if a preferred pharmacy network is included in your healthcare plan.  If not, you may want to review your options and see if adding such a plan would benefit you.

How To Know If A Short-Term Health Plan Is The Right Solution?
Figuring out if short-term health insurance is right for you depends on certain factors.  These are some of the common factors why many choose to carry short-term insurance.

• Affordability.  Traditional Health insurance options can be very costly for the kind of coverage a family may need.  A short term health insurance plan might be a more affordable solution.
• Employment Gap.  If you receive health insurance through your employer and are between plans or jobs, short-term health insurance can help cover you and your family.
• Network.  Short-term insurance may help expand your options, if you live in an area with few healthcare providers.
• Near immediate coverage.  In most cases, you can qualify and be covered by a short term health insurance plan within 24 hours.

Speaking with a true health insurance specialist will be the best way to sum up all the information you acquired and turn it into a smart health plan choice.  When it comes to choosing the right health care plan, knowledge and expertise are the most important factors.

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