If you are between jobs, are a few months away from becoming Medicare-eligible, have just recently graduated and have a few months before starting a new full-time job, you may benefit from purchasing affordable short term health insurance. In fact, now is a great time to shop for affordable short term health insurance, particularly if one of the above situations applies to you. The reason is that affordable short term health insurance keeps you protected in case of a major medical emergency so that you will not be burdened with huge medical bills. If you know you will be getting benefits through another source, such as an employed-sponsored group health insurance plan, soon, but you do not have any current coverage in effect right now, then you really should consider buying affordable short term health insurance to tide you over until your other more permanent health plan kicks in.

Although maybe you have shopped around, or looked at affordable short term health insurance quotes before, you really should look into it again. Because of the emphasis on health care reform right now, many affordable short term health insurance providers have reduced prices on their different policies. Therefore, affordable short term health insurance may be more in line with your budget now than ever before. Affordable short term health insurance plans are not restricted to a particular network of preferred health care providers. You will have the freedom to receive services from any physician or any hospital that you choose.

Affordable short term health insurance is not a good substitute for traditional long-term health insurance because there are some shortfalls of affordable short term health insurance. Short term health insurance will not cover a pre-existing medical condition, and more importantly, affordable short term health insurance will not provide benefits or coverage for preventive care. Therefore, routine physicals, exams, immunizations, or recommended screenings are not covered. These preventive services are covered by most other long-term health insurance policies. Therefore, although affordable short term health insurance certainly provides benefits if you receive medical care, and therefore helps you access medical care when you need it, and it does protect you from what could be overwhelming medical bills, it does not provide complete comprehensive coverage. Preventive care is very important too, so when you have the option to get benefits through a long term health insurance policy, you should take it. However, affordable short term health insurance is an excellent option to help protect you in between effective dates of a long term health insurance policy.

Affordable short term health insurance can be purchased and paid for up front or on a monthly basis. Also, you can choose to maintain your affordable short term health insurance policy active for as little as 30 days, or as long as six months. In addition, you may be able to renew your policy for another six months, if you have not filed claims against the policy. Many national health insurance providers offer some type of affordable short term health insurance policy, so are sure you shop around, or seek the help of an insurance broker to help you find a good affordable short term health insurance plan.