Short Term Health Insurance disadvantages:

Preventative care, like dental, optical and medical check ups may not be included.
Several states restrict short term health insurance sales within their borders.
Coverage is either domestic or outside the US, you may not be able to buy both under one policy.
Some medical problems you may experience on temporary medical will be paid, but may cause difficulty in buying your own comprehensive health insurance policy.
You could be subject to pre-existing condition exclusions that would not cover them on your next policy.
Short-term policies may not be considered "creditable coverage." This can affect how pre-existing conditions are covered by your next policy.
Coverage dollar and time limits may fall short of your needs if you become ill.
Features tend to be lean rather than the rich packages available as comprehensive, long term coverage.
Cannot may not be renewed beyond 6-12 months from the effective date.
Treatment for the pre-existing condition will probably not be covered.
No guarantees you will qualify medically for a second short term policy.
Allowable charges for hospital related expenses - hospital room, ICU, surgery, anesthesia, etc. may not be high enough to cover the expenses.

Short term health insurance advantages:

Coverage the day after you complete their application.
Lasts 1-12 months.
No preauthorizations needed
You can go to any doctor or hospital.
Some policies offer incentives for certain networks and doctors.
Online, realtime enrollment processing (print out proof of coverage, insurance cards ,etc.)
Coverage is nationwide with no out of network areas..
Premiums can be half the price of more comprehensive health coverage, since health tends to deteriorate gradually.
Prevent gaps of over 63 days that may lead to waiting periods at a new employer.
More likely to be approve even with a pre-existing condition.
Some companies let you reapply.

Short Term Medical Plans should be considered by:

A graduate age 26 and over that can no longer be on their parent's insurance
Job hunters
A non US citizen temporarily living here
Part-time workers waiting to qualify for company health insurance
New full time workers in a waiting period
Early retirees under age 65 and waiting on Medicare
Someone looking for a cheaper alternative to COBRA insurance

The short term market changes constantly and different plans are better than other plans for different situations, states, and problems. Rates and benefits change. New plans are introduced with old plans sometimes discontinued. You always want to search other sites as well as this one for temporary insurance plan rates and info, never count on one company or website to do all the searching for you.

Written by Craig J. Casey

Craig Casey is an Writer, Coach, Blogger, Husband, and Former Health Insurance Agent helping people on the web since 1999 with their health insurance problems.