Who Needs Short Term Medical Insurance?
Supplemental Health
Short Term Medical Insurance is designed for transition periods in life and may not be suitable for everyone.
Short Term Medical insurance (STM) is a temporary solution that provides basic medical benefits for a specific time period and is not the right choice for everyone. STM may be right for you if:
- You’re a new graduate. No longer eligible for health insurance through school, graduates may consider STM briefly while they pursue coverage through work or an individual medical plan.
- You are waiting for employer benefits. New employers often have a waiting period (that could be as long as 90 days) before health benefits become effective. STM can bridge the gap until employer coverage begins.
- You missed Open Enrollment and don’t qualify for Special Enrollment. STM can be an interim plan while you wait for the next Open Enrollment period.1
- You are between jobs. COBRA allows you to maintain your employer health insurance after leaving your job, but you are responsible for the entire premium. Since STM is typically about half the cost of COBRA* it may be the only coverage you can afford!
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If any of the scenarios described applies to you, a short-term plan might be just what you need. Unlike ACA-compliant health plans, STM insurance is not comprehensive and is meant to bridge coverage gaps temporarily. Typically, these plans will not cover pre-existing conditions or prescriptions. Because STM availability and pricing vary by location, take the next step and see what options are available to you.
When health insurance options are limited due to budget constraints or missed enrollment periods, STM is certainly better than taking a risk with no coverage.
1 Special enrollment opportunities. Healthcare.gov. www.healthcare.gov/coverage-outside-open-enrollment/special-enrollment-period, Retrieved July 7, 2026.
2 Millions drop ACA coverage amid price jump. Did fraud inflate signups? USA Today. www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/06/30/affordable-care-act-dropped-millions-high-prices/90744334007, June 30, 2026.
* Short Term Medical insurance is often a lower-cost alternative to COBRA. However, if you purchase Short Term Medical rather than maintaining COBRA coverage, you may give up your rights to coverage for pre-existing conditions or guaranteed health insurance in the future. Short Term Medical benefits may be limited compared to COBRA coverage.
IMPORTANT: This program only provides temporary health insurance that does not provide comprehensive/major medical coverage. It also does not satisfy the “minimum essential coverage” requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Everest Insurance® markets property, casualty, specialty and other lines of admitted and non-admitted direct insurance on behalf of Everest Group, Ltd., and its affiliated companies. Additional information about Everest, our people, and our products can be found on our website at www.everestglobal.com. This product is underwritten by Everest Reinsurance Company (or Everest Denali Insurance Company), depending on jurisdiction. All issuing companies may not do business in all jurisdictions. This literature is descriptive only. All policy terms, conditions, and pricing is solely determined by Everest and all coverage is subject to the language of the policy as issued. Not all products and product features may be available in all jurisdictions and availability may be subject to business and regulatory approval in each jurisdiction. Meyer and Associates is the Administrator of the Collegiate Alumni Trust, neither of which are affiliated with Everest. No employees, agents and/or representatives of Everest are involved in the operation of Companies.
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