Short-term health insurance FAQs

How long will it take me to get short-term coverage?

With short-term policies, applicants who are younger than 65 and who don't have any of the medical conditions that would result in a declined application can secure immediate individual and family coverage, with plans that can kick in as early as the next day.10 If you already know the number of days you will need to be covered, your insurer may allow you to make a single payment for the whole coverage period.

The application process for short-term health insurance is typically quite simple, with just a handful of yes/no questions about medical history. As long as your truthful answer to all of the questions is "no," you'll generally be accepted for coverage with an effective date as soon as the following day.

(It's important to understand that short-term healthcare plans generally rely on post-claims underwriting, which means the insurer will go back and take a closer look at your medical history if and when you experience an injury or illness that results in a medical claim, to ensure that the condition was not pre-existing.)