Short-Term & Supplemental Plans

Plans you can compare

Short-term vs. supplemental: what's the difference?

Short term medical is temporary medical coverage for people between plans, such as when you're changing jobs, waiting for employer coverage to start, or missed Open Enrollment. It helps pay for covered doctor visits, hospital care, and other services after a deductible, but it isn't ACA coverage. It can deny applicants based on health, usually excludes pre-existing conditions, and has benefit limits.

Supplemental plans sit alongside your main coverage. Instead of paying a share of each bill, most pay fixed cash amounts or a lump sum when something covered happens, like a hospital stay, an accidental injury, or a cancer, heart attack, or stroke diagnosis. The money goes to you (or to your provider if you choose), and you can use it for deductibles, copays, or everyday bills.

Dental, vision, and term life round out the menu. Adult dental and vision usually aren't part of a medical plan, and term life protects the people who depend on your income.

How to choose

• If you qualify for an ACA plan or Marketplace savings, compare that first. It covers pre-existing conditions and essential health benefits.
• Use short term medical for a true short gap, and read the exclusions.
• Add a supplemental plan if a large deductible or a hospital stay would strain your budget.
• Check what's sold in your state, since products and plan lengths vary.

Quote and enroll yourself, or let Hollen help

You can open any carrier above, see its prices, and enroll directly on its site. Prefer a second set of eyes? Hollen is an independent broker who works with multiple carriers. She'll follow up, compare your options, and explain the fine print, at no extra cost to you. “I work for you, not the insurance companies.”

Frequently asked questions

THIS IS A LIMITED-BENEFIT PLAN. It is a supplement to health insurance, not a substitute for major medical coverage or the minimum essential coverage required by the Affordable Care Act. Plans may be medically underwritten, and benefits are generally not paid for pre-existing conditions during any limitation period. Availability, benefits, and rules vary by carrier and state. Short term medical is not ACA-compliant coverage. Carrier names are trademarks of their respective owners. Hollen House Insurance is an independent brokerage.