A Complete Guide to Temporary Health Insurance in Texas

Do you know the status of your healthcare plan? What if your plan has expired without you realizing it?

You might think you’re good, but the true cost of not being insured is immense. Or perhaps you’ve just moved to Texas and need insurance coverage.

Temporary health insurance in Texas could be an option for you. It can ensure the basics are covered if there’s an accident in between your coverage.

Here’s everything you need to know about insurance options. 

Short-Term Insurance 

Short-term health insurance is an increasingly popular option for Texas healthcare and across the country.

Short-term or temporary plans in Texas are meant as a temporary solution for people who have gaps in their coverage or can’t afford ACA health insurance. While it may seem like your only option if you aren’t eligible for Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage, there are other options available on the marketplace.

After all, there’s more than one way to get affordable coverage. But if your income qualifies you for subsidies on the marketplace but you don’t want a regular plan because of some unique circumstance—like getting married or having a baby soon—then consider getting temporary health insurance until other arrangements can be made.

Bridging the Gap 

When you’re between jobs—temporary health insurance can help bridge the gap until your new job’s benefits kick in or when you don’t have an employer-sponsored plan. If this happens while you’re actively looking for work (so long as your state allows), it may be possible to get temporary coverage through an online marketplace.

If you have a gap in continuous coverage, then this might be because there was a time when your existing plan ended but didn’t provide enough time between the end date. This is when another plan would usually begin (also called “the open enrollment period”).

In this case, it may be possible to purchase short-term insurance on its own without having any other form of full-year coverage available at all (for example: if someone were taking care of their terminally ill parent).

How Does Short-term Insurance Work?

Short-term health insurance is not the same as ACA coverage. Short-term plans are not guaranteed issue, which means you can be denied coverage for any reason once you apply. They do not meet minimum essential coverage requirements and therefore are not compliant with the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Your short-term plan may also be non-renewable, meaning that your insurance company has the option to refuse to renew your plan when it expires. If this happens, you will no longer have protection from medical debt or care if an accident or illness occurs in between terms.

Short-term plans are not considered qualified health insurance under the ACA, so if you have a short-term plan, it will not count as coverage when determining whether or not you qualify for an exemption from the tax penalty.

How Much Does Short-term Health Insurance Cost?

Short-term health insurance is generally less expensive than an Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan. In most cases, you can expect to pay between $100 and $300 per month for short-term coverage. If you have a pre-existing condition and are looking for more comprehensive coverage, you may have to pay as much as $400 per month.

If you’re in good health and have no major medical issues, we recommend searching for plans that cost between $100 and $200 each month. These plans will cover only your routine visits, such as annual physicals or yearly checkups. But they’ll also offer some additional benefits like prescription drug coverage at discounted rates and preventive care visits at no charge whatsoever!

What Do Short-term Plans Cover?

While short-term health insurance plans can be a good option for those who have been unable to find long-term coverage, they may not cover certain things. For example, some short-term plans do not cover pre-existing conditions.

This means that if you’ve been uninsured for some time due to a health condition, you could be denied coverage by your new plan. Additionally, since these policies are not required to provide all of the same benefits as ACA-compliant plans (the Affordable Care Act), there are limits on what they will pay out to prevent abuse and fraud.

This is true regarding collecting reimbursement from government programs. Examples include Obamacare or Medicaid/CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program).

Another thing worth noting is that while some short-term plans do cover prescription drugs and mental health care costs, others do not offer those benefits at all.

Finally – while maternity care is generally covered by most ACA-compliant policies today (though not all), it may not be included in a short-term policy at all!

What Is Not Covered by Short-term Plans?

It’s important to know what is not covered by short-term plans. For example, pre-existing conditions are not covered. This means that if you had asthma before buying your plan, you won’t be able to use it for any related treatments or medications.

Additionally, short-term plans do not cover preventive care services such as annual physicals and routine checkups that may lead to early detection of diseases such as breast cancer or diabetes. They also don’t cover mental health care and some forms of addiction treatment like detoxification services or counseling sessions about substance abuse issues (such as alcohol abuse).

Short-term plans cannot guarantee access to maternity coverage if you’re pregnant when signing up for the policy. You’ll have to wait until after delivery before using this benefit.

Short-term plans may also have a maximum dollar amount that they will pay out per month. This cap can vary from one plan to another so make sure that it’s sufficient enough for your needs before signing up!

How Expensive Is Health Care in Texas?

The average cost of health insurance in the U.S is around $540 per month and in Texas, it can be slightly higher than this. This means that for every month that you have your temporary health plan, you’ll be paying $600! That’s a lot of money for an insurance policy that doesn’t guarantee you the same rights as a standard plan. 

We also strongly recommend that you get a plan that covers both mental and physical issues. This will save you a lot of money in the long run, as you won’t have to pay for two separate plans.

What’s the Best City To Get Temporary Health Insurance in Texas?

So, where should you get temporary health insurance in Texas? As the state capital and fourth-largest city, Austin is a hub for both healthcare professionals and tech giants looking to innovate in the healthcare sector. Its bustling economy also makes it one of the best cities to get temporary health insurance in Texas.

Houston is another great option because of its thriving economy and robust job market. If you’re looking to work in healthcare or just want to travel around the state while staying healthy, these are two excellent choices!

What to Do if Your Temporary Health Care Plan Runs Out?

If your temporary health care plan runs out, don’t panic. The first thing you should do is check with your employer. You can see if they can extend the coverage for another period.

What if that’s not possible due to company policy or some other reason? It makes sense to start looking for a new plan as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more risk there is that something will happen between now and when your next plan renewal date arrives (like an accident).

You also don’t want to just keep renewing your current plan without checking whether it’s still right for you. You also need to check if there are better options available today than there were previously (e.g., different deductibles/co-pays).

It’s easy enough just not changing things once they’ve been set up. Making sure those settings stay ideal requires ongoing effort on our part. But doing so can be well worth it!

Am I Eligible for a Short-term Plan?

You can buy a short-term health insurance plan if you are:

A U.S. citizen or legal resident

Not eligible for another type of health plan, such as Medicare or Medicaid

Under 65 years old (or over if you’re able to show that you qualify)

Have no other recent coverage

If you are eligible for Medicare, the health insurance marketplace cannot enroll you in a Marketplace plan. What if you are not eligible for Medicare but have access to an employer-sponsored plan that provides minimum value and affordability?  Then the Marketplace will not enroll you in a Marketplace plan.

Short Term vs. Temporary Health Care

Short-term health insurance is a type of coverage that provides temporary medical benefits. It’s also sometimes called limited-duration health insurance, or temporary major medical coverage.

The main difference between short-term and long-term health insurance is the length of time you are covered by the policy.

Short-term policies typically last up to 364 days. However, long-term plans cover you for at least one year or longer (usually as long as two years).

In Texas, however, most plans only last 6 months. Therefore they do not meet federal guidelines to be considered a qualified plan under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

How Does Short-term Health Insurance Work?

Short-term plans are meant to fill in gaps during times when you need more coverage than what’s offered by an employer. But you don’t qualify for ACA eligibility due to pre-existing conditions or other factors like your age or income level.

Some people purchase these plans because they’re looking for something less expensive than traditional ACA coverage. Others find them useful when transitioning from full employer-sponsored benefits down into self-employment. In this sector, it’s harder to get group rates outside of COBRA options.

Short-term Health Insurance May Offer You Gap Coverage

Short-term health insurance may offer you coverage if you have a gap between coverage, but it doesn’t provide all the benefits of ACA coverage.

Short-term plans do not cover pre-existing conditions. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), insurers must sell you a policy. This is regardless of your current health status.

However, short-term plans can deny you coverage or charge higher premiums. This is especially true if they find out that you have an existing medical condition when applying for their plan.

Short-term plans do not cover prescription drugs or mental health care. These are two areas where many Americans struggle to afford treatment under current law.

Often mental care services are paid up-front, out-of-pocket. The rise of online therapy has made the marketplace more affordable. Patients in Texas don’t have to hire expensive local therapists. 

And while most ACA insurance plans include maternity care as part of their essential health care benefits, these policies don’t guarantee any kind of maternity services at all. This is true even though pregnancy is often considered a preexisting condition by insurers who won’t sell new policies until after giving birth.

Temporary Health Insurance in Texas Is Complicated: We Can Help

Temporary health insurance in Texas is complicated. However, it’s great to know you can get covered even if you have gaps in your main plan. Thankfully, we’re here to help with the confusion.

We can answer any questions about the coverage offered by these plans so that you can make an informed decision before signing up for one.

Be sure to contact us today to get a quote or for some additional help in choosing your temporary health insurance in Texas plan.