It’s important not to confuse term health insurance with short-term health insurance. Term insurance typically refers to life insurance, which provides your family members with compensation in the event of your untimely death. Short-term health insurance provides you with compensation for your medical bills while you await a more long-term solution.
What is short-term health insurance and why do you need it?
Short-term health insurance provides you with coverage temporarily during a transitional period in your life. These transitional periods might include the following:
- Getting a new job with fewer benefits
- Losing your job
- In between jobs
- Searching for a better option for permanent health insurance
- Attending college for just a few years before entering the workforce and getting health benefits from your employer
- Waiting for a few years before eligibility for Medicare or Medicaid
- Turning 18 and losing coverage under your parents’ plans
During these transitional periods, it might not make sense to commit to a long-term health insurance plan when you know you’re going to be switching to a different plan very soon. Short-term health insurance serves to bridge this gap – which is why it is often referred to as “bridge health insurance.”
What is bridge health insurance?
Although bridge health insurance is essentially the same thing as short-term health insurance, this term may specifically refer to those awaiting Medicare eligibility. These “gap healthcare plans” are particularly popular among older Americans who are in their early 60s. These individuals may be waiting to retire, at which point they may lose healthcare employment benefits. Or perhaps these seniors have missed their Medicare enrollment window.
Bridge health insurance is also popular among individuals who are still attempting to establish residency in the United States. Permanent residents may also favor bridge insurance plans if they have been in the country for less than five years – as this makes them ineligible for Medicare.
What kind of coverage can I expect?
These insurance plans typically provide coverage for a limited duration – usually several months or a year. You should know that providers of short-term health insurance plans are exempt from regulations set forth by the Affordable Care Act. This means that they are not required to provide coverage for the full list of benefits set forth by the ACA.
Different providers of short-term healthcare insurance may offer different levels of coverage. Always make sure to read the fine print and check that your specific healthcare needs are covered by your short-term insurance plan.
Are there different types of bridge health plans?
Many different types of bridge insurance plans are available in the United States. That being said, you will not find these short-term plans for sale on any mainstream health insurance marketplace. This means that you might have to shop around a little to find the best option for your unique insurance needs.
What are my options for health insurance?
When choosing short-duration insurance, there are a number of factors you should keep in mind:
- Deductibles
- Prices
- Emergency care
- Availability (some bridge insurance plans are only available in certain states)
- Coverage for preexisting conditions
- Length of coverage (up to 36 months in some states)
- Age restrictions
- Prescription coverage
- Vision care
- Telemedicine access
- Prescription discounts
- Maximums
- Customization options
- X-ray coverage
- Additional requirements (such as becoming a member of certain organizations or networks)
What are the benefits associated with bridge coverage?
One of the key benefits of bridge coverage insurance is that it is very easy to set up. This is essential because individuals often need to organize bridge insurance as quickly as possible to cover gaps.
Another benefit is the lack of a long-term commitment. Most short-term plans end within just one year, and you won’t feel as though you’re entering into a daunting contract. In addition, many of these insurance plans feature no coinsurance and no co-pays. Even though the duration of this insurance may be short, it is still capable of providing millions of dollars in maximum coverage. Of course, your exact benefits depend on which plan or provider you choose.
Is Medicare my only option for healthcare?
Many people believe that if they are awaiting Medicare eligibility, they have no other option but to simply wait and hope for the best without coverage. But there are many other options for insurance, and there’s no need to experience such a precarious situation as you await eligibility. Many private companies offer solutions for those who need to fill these gaps in their insurance coverage, and although you won’t find them on government websites, they aren’t difficult to find.
What is term health insurance?
Can I Switch from Short Duration to Long Term Health Coverage?
Switching from short-duration insurance to a more long-term insurance solution is easy. Depending on how long your “gap” between insurance coverage might be, you can choose short-term plans that meet your needs.
For example, if you’re a senior who knows you’ll be eligible for Medicare within one year, you can choose a bridge insurance plan that lasts 365 days. If you are set to start a new job with employment benefits within just a few months, you can choose a bridge plan with 6 months of coverage. You can switch between short and long-term insurance plans when your bridge plan ends or whenever it’s convenient for you.
Can CrowdHealth serve as short-duration insurance?
Even though CrowdHealth isn’t health insurance, it can serve many of the same functions. CrowdHealth uses a crowdfunding business model to provide individuals with an alternative to traditional healthcare insurance. This might be an attractive option for those seeking bridge insurance plans, as you can pay as you go with monthly fees. Once you find a new job, become a permanent resident, or become eligible for Medicare, you can explore your options for long-term health insurance. But don’t be surprised if you feel reluctant to leave CrowdHealth, as this alternative system offers many notable benefits.
The process is quite simple: You make a monthly contribution to CrowdHealth, while others do the same. When you visit your doctor and receive a bill, you pay the cost and then submit your receipt to the CrowdHealth app. From there, your bills are paid seamlessly via the crowdfunding process. The best part is that CrowdHealth can even negotiate your medical bills for you, leading to even lower costs.
If you’d like to learn more about CrowdHealth and why it might be a solid temporary solution for short-term insurance, check out our website today. Signing up is quick and easy, and we can also answer any additional questions you might have about how this crowdfunding system works. Remember, you don’t need to choose traditional insurance options – especially not when there are so many innovative alternatives available in the modern era. Choose CrowdHealth today and experience an effective bridge insurance solution.
Talk to a CrowdHealth Specialist
People Love CrowdHealth
As a physician in practice for over a decade, I'm immersed in the problems we face in healthcare. CrowdHealth is the most impactful solution to restoring the doctor patient relationship that I've seen.
Dr. Maryanna Barrett, MD
Owner of Thrive OBGYN
Healthcare desperately needs viable alternative payment approaches. I am thrilled to see CrowdHealth leading the way.
Dr. Tanya Stewart, MD, MBA
Former Chief Clinical Transformation Officer, United Health Group
The vast majority of people in this country are enjoined in an insurance contract they never wanted. CrowdHealth aims to change the terms of this spectacularly bad contract.
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CEO, Cor Medical, Inc.
Everyone should have affordable healthcare options. I’m thrilled to see Crowdhealth partner with real estate agents as this is a huge obstacle in our industry.
Mallory Mundy
Team Leader, Keller Williams Southwest Market Center
I've never understood why Realtors have to pay more for quality health care just because we are entrepreneurs. CrowdHealth is providing a true solution to our community combating the high costs of traditional health insurance.
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Broker / Partner, 8z Real Estate
I am excited to see CrowdHealth help today’s and tomorrow’s entrepreneurs who now have the freedom to pursue a dream without giving up an important safety net.
Mark Strub
Broker/Owner, Strüb Residential, Compass
Healthcare desperately needs viable alternative payment approaches. I am thrilled to see CrowdHealth leading the way.
Dr. Tanya Stewart, MD, MBA
Former Chief Clinical Transformation Officer, United Health Group
As a physician in practice for over a decade, I'm immersed in the problems we face in healthcare. CrowdHealth is the most impactful solution to restoring the doctor patient relationship that I've seen.
Dr. Maryanna Barrett, MD
Owner of Thrive OBGYN
The vast majority of people in this country are enjoined in an insurance contract they never wanted. CrowdHealth aims to change the terms of this spectacularly bad contract.
Dr. Mark Napoli, MD, FACC
CEO, Cor Medical, Inc.
As a physician in practice for over a decade, I'm immersed in the problems we face in healthcare. CrowdHealth is the most impactful solution to restoring the doctor patient relationship that I've seen.
Dr. Maryanna Barrett, MD
Owner of Thrive OBGYN
Healthcare desperately needs viable alternative payment approaches. I am thrilled to see CrowdHealth leading the way.
Dr. Tanya Stewart, MD, MBA
Former Chief Clinical Transformation Officer, United Health Group
As a physician in practice for over a decade, I'm immersed in the problems we face in healthcare. CrowdHealth is the most impactful solution to restoring the doctor patient relationship that I've seen.
Dr. Maryanna Barrett, MD
Owner of Thrive OBGYN
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