Bridge coverage for the gap between jobs, plans or enrollment periods — often issued in a day and far cheaper than COBRA. We'll also tell you plainly when an ACA plan is the smarter move.
Short-term plans are not ACA-compliant and don't cover pre-existing conditions. Health Enrollment Center is operated by Sprinter Insurance Agency LLC — not a government marketplace.
Short-term medical plans are built for a temporary gap: you're between jobs, waiting for a new employer plan to start, missed Open Enrollment, or aging off a parent's policy mid-year. They can often be issued the next day and cost far less than COBRA or an unsubsidized marketplace plan.
The trade-off matters, and we'll always say it plainly: short-term plans are not ACA-compliant. They don't have to cover pre-existing conditions, and they usually exclude maternity and some prescriptions. For a healthy person who needs 30–90 days of protection against a major accident or hospitalization, they can be a smart, cheap bridge. For someone managing an ongoing condition — or anyone who qualifies for a Special Enrollment Period — an ACA plan is almost always the better call.
Availability and maximum duration vary by state, and in a number of states they aren't sold at all. California, for example, has prohibited insurers from issuing, selling or renewing short-term limited-duration coverage since January 1, 2019, and several other states either ban them outright or cap them at a few months. A licensed agent will tell you what's actually sold where you live and whether a subsidized marketplace plan would beat it.
Don't see yours? Call a licensed agent — most answers take under two minutes.
Often the next day. Short-term plans skip the marketplace calendar, so you can apply any time of year and choose a start date as soon as tomorrow — useful when your prior coverage is ending immediately.
No. Short-term plans are not ACA-compliant, don't cover pre-existing conditions, and aren't minimum essential coverage. They're a temporary bridge, not a long-term substitute for a marketplace plan.
No. Some states prohibit them entirely and others cap how long they can last. California has banned the sale, issuance and renewal of short-term limited-duration coverage since January 1, 2019, and it is not the only state that restricts them. If you're in a state where short-term plans aren't sold, the realistic option is a marketplace plan — and if you're losing other coverage, that's a qualifying life event that opens a 60-day Special Enrollment Period. We'll tell you which applies to your state before you spend any time on it.
No. We're a licensed insurance agency paid by the carriers, not by you. The premium of any plan is identical whether you enroll through us or directly with the insurer — you just also get an agent who handles renewals and claims questions.
No. Health Enrollment Center is a brand operated by Sprinter Insurance Agency LLC, a private licensed insurance agency. We are not HealthCare.gov, not a state exchange, and not affiliated with any government agency. We help you enroll in marketplace plans when they're the best fit, and we also show private plans the marketplace doesn't carry.
Start with your ZIP. Two quick questions, then a licensed agent brings you the plans you actually qualify for — no cost, no obligation.