Debunking Myths About Short Term Health Insurance

In 2018, the Trump administration rolled back an Obamacare rule allowing short-term health insurance plans, also known as temporary health plans, to extend coverage to 364 days, overruling an Obamacare mandate that placed a 90-day limitation on policies. At the time, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar lauded the move by the administration saying, “Americans need more choices in health insurance so they can find coverage that meets their needs.”

The debate over short-term health plans has been a divisive topic for advocates of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) who have been pushing to keep Obamacare the law of the land while restrictions on plans such as short term medical are eased. Why are looser restrictions a concern? Some fear healthy individuals will flock to short-term plans, abandoning their ACA coverage and making the federal and state exchanges older and sicker, which increases the cost of insurance. While that scenario might make logistical sense on paper, there hasn’t been any proof that people who have an assortment of opinions, reasons and convictions choose to buy a short-term health plan over ACA coverage due to extended coverage durations.

An industry survey recognized by Kaiser Family Foundation found that 51% of short-term health insurance purchasers cited lower price as the number one factor for their purchase and 39% said they just needed temporary coverage. Yet there is still much confusion about whether short-term health plans provide true value to individuals who want to save money or just need to fill their gaps in coverage. Let’s look at seven common myths about short term health insurance:

Myth 1: Short-Term Health Plans Only Cover Catastrophic Incidences

Short-term plans are structured similarly to individual medical plans. There is a deductible, coinsurance and in some instances, copays for doctor visits. While some short term plans offer high deductibles in order to keep monthly premiums low, companies typically offer an array of deducibile amounts, even as low as $1,000. Lower deductibles can equate to lower out of pocket costs if the deductible is reached during the policy’s coverage duration. But it’s important to remember that all health insurance plans have a deductible, and individuals are responsible for a set amount of out of pocket costs when they receive medical care for accidents or illnesses, whether they have an ACA plan or a short-term medical plan.

Myth 2: Short-Term Health Insurance is “Junk Insurance”

“Junk insurance” is a phrase being used to explain short term health insurance in today’s news cycle. When compared to an ACA plan, there are definite differences, but whether it makes short-term policies “junk” is in the eye of the beholder. As mentioned in myth one, short-term health plans are structured like major medical plans and have a deductible and coinsurance. Because they are not required to meet the standards of the ACA, some short-term insurance does not cover preventive care, like immunizations, and there is typically a waiting period for pre-existing condition coverage. If these types of benefits are important to the patient, short-term medical coverage might not be the best option. For individuals who don’t anticipate needing a lot of preventive care or medical treatment for a pre-existing condition, the lower monthly cost of short-term insurance can be far less than a more expensive major medical policy.

Myth 3: Short-Term Medical Only Accepts Healthy People

Short-term health plans are allowed to ask medical questions in order to qualify an individual for coverage. Restrictions include pregnancy, weight limitations, cancer, specific heart conditions and others. However, some short-term insurance carriers accept individuals with conditions that are treated and managed, such as Type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol. If a condition is in question, contact the insurance carrier or the customer service department of the claims administrator before applying for coverage.

Myth 4: Short-Term Health Insurance is For Temporary Needs Only

Today short term insurance can be purchased for up to 364-days a year, depending on your state of residence. While “short-term” health insurance can fill a need for an individual who is temporarily uninsured or waiting for coverage to begin with an employer, many are finding short term insurance is an excellent and budget-conscientious alternative to more costly major medical insurance while waiting for a more permanent option. Some of the best candidates for short-term insurance coverage are college students, early retirees and 26-year old adults aging off their parent’s health insurance plan.

Myth 5: Short-Term Health Insurance Doesn’t Offer Prescription Drug Benefits

Similar to the assumption that “short term health insurance doesn’t cover anything”, some short term plans do, in fact, offer prescription drug benefits with copays. This is above and beyond a discount prescription drug program. On Pivot Health plans, for example, all short-term plans have non-insurance discount drug coverage. However, two plans offer insurance coverage for prescription drugs. If reducing your prescription out of pocket costs is important, carefully read the plan detail description for prescription drug coverage to ensure you purchase the plan that will best fit your prescription needs.

Myth 6: Doctors Don’t Accept Short-Term Coverage

Physicians and medical facilities accept health insurance. They do not discriminate against the type of insurance they accept, or strictly accept ACA coverage only. Some short-term plans have a PPO network, and you should seek doctors in that network to receive the negotiated rate for services. Other plans do not have a PPO network and pay providers on an industry-standard scale of Medicare reimbursements. If a doctor tells you they don’t accept short-term medical insurance, find out from the claims administrator how they pay providers – through a PPO network or from the Medicare reimbursement standard. In the end, your provider is most interested in how they will get paid, not what type of insurance card is in your wallet. In most cases, a claims administrator will be happy to speak with your provider about payment processing.

Myth 7: Short-Term Plans Don’t Qualify as an ACA Plan, so You Have to Pay a Tax Penalty

The 2017 Tax and Reconciliation Act passed by Congress eliminated this rule for all health insurance plans that do not qualify based on the ACA mandate, including short term health insurance. As of January 1, 2019, the tax penalty was rolled-back and no one is subject to any penalty no matter what type of health insurance you purchase – or chose not to purchase.

Summary

Individuals who go without health insurance pay on average twice as much as those who have negotiated rates through their health insurance company. Going without coverage can be a financial risk. If it comes down to affording an ACA plan or short term medical plan, the savings can be substantial with short term, but it’s vital to weigh your options and select a plan that best fits your financial lifestyle.