Short Term Health Insurance In Washington D.C.

Offered by some of the nation’s top healthcare providers, short term health care plans, also known as temporary healthcare policies, offer a variety of options tailored to specific individual needs. Plans in the District of Columbia offer coverage for up to 90 days to people who are waiting for group coverage to become active, are between jobs, or are recent college graduates. They may also be used by individuals who have been recently divorced, are unable to afford COBRA, have just turned 26 and are being removed from their parents’ health plan, have recently left the military, or have missed the enrollment deadline for Obamacare.

Federal regulations currently limit the coverage of these plans to 90 days under one certificate of insurance. In some situations, people who need longer coverage than the 90-day contract can apply for additional short term contracts with the initial registration.

Most plans do not cover pre-existing conditions. State regulations vary, but most define a pre-existing condition as one that was diagnosed or treated within the previous three to five years. People with pre-existing conditions, however, may be able to extend existing plans sponsored by their former employers. COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) healthcare plans, for instance, allow someone who has an existing medical condition or loses a job to extend current coverage after employment has been terminated.

Consumers should note that a person who buys a short term plan in the District of Columbia will become ineligible for a guaranteed HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability) plan. HIPAA plans are for people who have used up all COBRA or continued state coverage, are ineligible for Medicaid or Medicare, and have no other health insurance. Applications for HIPAA must be filed within 63 days of the time when coverage was lost.

In 2017, Congress repealed the individual mandate penalty set up by the Affordable Care Act. As a result, individuals will not have to pay a penalty for not having minimum essential health care coverage starting in 2019.

Currently, there are 24 separate short term products being sold by eHealth and Agile Health Insurance in the District of Columbia and 45 states. The number of products varies in each state, ranging from 22 in West Virginia to only one in New Mexico. Each product has its own distinct exclusions and benefits. Five states have more comprehensive laws regulating short term plans than the other 45 states and, as a result, offer no short term plans on eHealth or Agile.

The process of applying for a short term health insurance plan is relatively easy in the District of Columbia, and many individuals can obtain coverage in approximately 24 hours.

Carriers Offering Short-Term Policies in the District of Columbia

IHC Group
National General Accident and Health
Companion Life Insurance Company
Lifeshield National Insurance Company