For residents of Orlando, Florida, health insurance is something you need to protect your hard-earned assets. What do you do if you lose your Florida health insurance? If you think the situation will be a temporary one, you may want to consider buying some short term Florida health insurance.
Our free Florida health insurance finder at the top of the page can help you compare instant Orlando health insurance quotes for both permanent health insurance and temporary health insurance.
Here are some basic facts on finding Orlando, Florida health insurance for your temporary medical needs.
Defining Short Term Health Insurance
Short term, or temporary health insurance, is coverage designed to last for up to 12 months at a time. This product is marketed to people who don’t have health insurance. For example, a personal who has been laid off from his or her job or who doesn’t have health insurance coverage because they have been divorced may be interested in this type of coverage.
People who are working part-time and don’t qualify for coverage under an employer’s group health insurance plan may also be interested in short term health insurance. Recent graduates from college or university who are no longer covered under their parents’ health insurance or those who have recently retired but are too young to qualify for Medicare are the target market for short-term health insurance carriers.
Short-term health insurance may be an attractive alternative to COBRA coverage for people who have lost their jobs. Even though they may have the right to continue to participate in an employer-sponsored group health insurance plan, the laid-off worker must pay the entire cost of the premiums themselves. It may be more economical to buy an individual policy than to continue paying group premium rates. Insurance companies charge more to insure a group of people because they have to account for some members of the group as being a higher risk than others.
An insurance company that offers short-term health coverage may ask that you provide a certificate from your doctor indicating that you are in good health before you can be covered. If you buy this type of insurance and arrange for permanent health insurance coverage before your temporary insurance term is up, the temporary insurance is immediately voided. Do not make a claim under your temporary insurance plan after that point. To do so would constitute fraud.
What The Policy Covers
Before you decide to buy short-term insurance, you should review the policy provisions so that you understand what you are being covered for. Most policies will protect you for major medical expenses only. This is not the kind of coverage that you buy to pay for doctor visits.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, a short-term health insurance policy will not cover you for medical expenses related to it. The exact definition of a pre-existing medical condition will vary depending on the insurer, but the term describes a condition or disorder you had before your policy takes effect. If you had to seek treatment from a doctor or at a hospital for a medical concern, this may be considered a pre-existing condition.
Choosing A Plan
The ideal customer for a short-term health insurance plan is someone who is healthy, will soon have permanent coverage, and who wants coverage for major medical expenses. If you were injured in an accident or needed medical treatment and didn’t have health insurance in effect, you would be responsible for paying for the cost of your treatment yourself. For most people, this would result in a financial hardship, to say the least. A person without health insurance would be faced with having to sell off their assets to pay for their health care. In some cases, people have been forced to declare bankruptcy because of the debt.
Buying health insurance is a good investment in protecting your assets. You can choose the amount of the deductible that makes sense for your budget. This is the amount you agree to pay out of pocket before the insurance company will pay any benefits under the policy. Choosing a plan with a higher deductible will help to keep your premium costs down.
For example, on a full policy you might choose a deductible of $500 or $2000, and you would be required to pay for that amount of care each year. After you have paid that amount as recorded on the medical statements sent to you by your provider, then the policy coverage kicks in and the insurer starts paying their portion. Clearly the deductibles for temporary coverage will differ, but you need to understand how the process works.
You should also consider what type of coverage you are getting under the policy. Plans are available that will provide coverage for emergency care, surgery, and hospital stays. You can also get coverage for diagnostic tests and visits to specialists.
With a short-term health insurance policy, you should be able to see the doctor of your choice without having to find one who has signed up for a specific provider network. It’s always a good idea to ask the insurance provider about any restrictions on who you can see for your medical needs before you make the decision to buy a policy. This information will help you to find the right plan for your needs.
Getting quotes from several insurance providers and comparing them is a good way to find the right temporary health insurance plan. Each company has different policy terms and conditions, and you want to be sure that you understand exactly what you are paying for when you buy the policy. If you have questions the policy, be sure to ask your insurance agent or a company representative to clear things up for you.
Ask the insurance companies you are considering for your coverage whether you can renew your temporary insurance if you need to once the initial term has expired. Not all insurers will allow you to do so, and even if you can renew your coverage, you premium rates may increase for the second term. If you don’t understand what companies are offering you, call the independent agents at the number above. Since they are not affiliate with a single insurance company, you can be sure they are giving you solid advice for your situation. Of course, you can call the individual insurer too. They will be happy to answer questions about their products. Just don’t expect them to give you advice on other alternatives outside of the company they represent.
Once you receive a copy of your short-term health insurance policy, take some time to review the document carefully. You need to make sure that what it has the same terms that you agreed to when you bought the policy. You have a certain number of days to examine your policy and if you decide to cancel it, you are entitled to a refund of any premiums you paid. Also, this is not the end of the road. Even once you obtain a more permanent health insurance you will want to review it yearly to make sure it meets your needs and offers a competitive rate.
Compare Orlando Health Insurance Quotes Online
You can start to look for the Orlando, Florida health insurance you need today. The free insurance tool at the top of the page can help. Simply click on it and you can start comparing Orlando health insurance quotes right away!