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We Have Agents Ready To Take Your Call. Call Us NowRequest a Free QuoteShort Term Health Insurance for Life’s In-Between Moments
Short Term Health Insurance from UnitedHealthcare protects you between jobs, after open enrollment, or while you wait for new coverage. You can apply any time of year. Plus, coverage can often start the next day.
- Terms of 3, 6, or 12 months
- Apply year-round with no enrollment period
- Sold in 29 states through Vivna
🤝 Short-Term Carriers We Work With
Compare short-term medical plans from respected national carriers. As a result, your gap coverage comes from a name you can trust.
Carrier and plan availability vary by state. Call 888-730-6031 to see what’s available where you live.
⏱️ How Short Term Health Insurance Works
Short Term Health Insurance gives you temporary medical coverage for a set number of months. First, you pick a start date, a deductible, and a term length. Then the plan helps pay for covered doctor visits, emergencies, and hospital care until it ends.
Because these plans are not ACA plans, knowing the rules matters. Our licensed agents explain what is and is not covered. Call 888-730-6031 to compare plans at no cost.
🪜 How to Use Your Plan
Coverage can often begin as soon as the next day.
Network doctors and hospitals usually cost you less.
After that, the plan shares covered costs up to your limit.
Line up new coverage before your term ends.
💡 Who Benefits Most
- 💼 People between jobs
- 📅 Anyone who missed open enrollment
- 🎓 Young adults coming off a parent’s plan
- ⏳ People waiting for job coverage to start
🧭 What to Know Before You Buy
Doctor visits, urgent care, emergencies, and hospital stays.
Pre-existing conditions and some maternity or mental health care.
You pay the full premium, although it is often lower.
Coverage ends on schedule, so plan your next step early.
⭐ Why Work With Vivna
Short-term plans differ in deductibles, limits, and exclusions. Therefore, comparing them side by side matters. A licensed agent also checks whether an ACA plan could save you more. Best of all, our help is free.
Learn how these plans stack up in short-term vs. ACA coverage. Need longer protection? Then see Tri-Term plans, explore ACA options, or call 888-730-6031.
Short Term Health Insurance: How It Works and Where It Is Sold
Short term health insurance is temporary medical coverage you can buy in any month. Through Vivna, plans last from one month to just under a year, depending on your state. They are medically underwritten and are not ACA coverage, so they can exclude pre-existing conditions and do not qualify for tax credits.
Who short term health insurance fits
- You are between jobs or waiting out a new employer's waiting period.
- You missed open enrollment and have no qualifying life event.
- You are healthy and earn over the ACA subsidy cliff, so Marketplace plans get no tax credit.
- You are retiring before 65. In 15 states, tri-term health insurance can bridge nearly three years.
Short term vs. TriTerm vs. ACA plans
| Question | Short term | TriTerm Medical | ACA plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| How long it lasts | 1 month to just under 12 months, by state | Nearly 3 years over three terms | 12 months, renewable |
| Pre-existing conditions | Generally not covered | Not covered for the first 12 months | Covered |
| Health questions | Yes | Yes | No |
| Tax credits | No | No | Yes, if your income qualifies |
| When you can buy | Any month | Any month | Open enrollment or a life event |
Short term health insurance by state
Vivna offers UnitedHealthcare short-term plans in 29 states. The longest term and the network depend on your state. Tap a state to see local options.
| State | Short-term plan length | Network | TriTerm Medical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 month to just under 12 months | Choice Plus | Yes |
| Arizona | 1 month to just under 12 months | Choice Plus | Yes |
| Arkansas | 1 month to just under 12 months | Choice Plus | Yes |
| Florida | 1 month to just under 12 months | Choice | Yes |
| Georgia | 1 month to just under 12 months | Choice Plus | Yes |
| Indiana | 1 month to just under 12 months | Choice | Yes (three 364-day terms) |
| Iowa | 3 months to just under 12 months | Choice | Yes |
| Kansas | 1 month to just under 12 months | Choice | No |
| Kentucky | 1 month to just under 12 months | Choice Plus | Yes |
| Louisiana | 1 month to just under 12 months | Choice | Yes |
| Michigan | Up to 6 months in a 12-month period | Choice | No |
| Mississippi | 1 month to just under 12 months | Choice | Yes |
| Missouri | Up to 6 months | Choice | Yes |
| Montana | Up to 6 months | Choice Plus | No |
| Nebraska | 1 month to just under 12 months | Choice | Yes |
| Nevada | Up to 6 months, with no more than 185 days of coverage in any 365 days | Choice | No |
| New Hampshire | Up to 6 months, with no more than 540 days of coverage in 24 months | Choice Plus | No |
| North Carolina | 1 to 3 months, plus a 1-month extension | Choice Plus | No |
| Ohio | 1 month to just under 12 months | Choice Plus | No |
| Oklahoma | 1 to 3 months, plus a 1-month extension | Choice Plus | No |
| Pennsylvania | 1 to 3 months, plus a 1-month extension | Choice | No |
| South Carolina | 1 month to just under 12 months | Choice | Yes |
| Tennessee | 1 month to just under 12 months | Choice | Yes |
| Texas | 1 to 3 months, plus a 1-month extension | Choice | No |
| Utah | 1 month to just under 12 months | Choice Plus | No |
| Virginia | Up to 3 months, and they are not sold during open enrollment | Choice | No |
| West Virginia | 1 month to just under 12 months | Choice | Yes |
| Wisconsin | Up to just under 12 months, with no back-to-back policies | Choice | No |
| Wyoming | Up to 6 months | Choice | No |
Source: UnitedHealthcare Product Availability Grid (form 42839b-X-0826, current as of August 28, 2026). Plans can vary by ZIP code.
Short-term carriers Vivna works with
- UnitedHealthcare short-term health insurance, underwritten by Golden Rule Insurance Company. TriTerm Medical is also sold in 15 states.
- Companion Life short-term health insurance
- Pan-American Life SureCare short-term insurance
- Allstate Health Solutions
Carrier choices vary by state and ZIP code. A licensed agent can compare the plans you qualify for at 888-730-6031.
Before you buy
- Losing a short-term plan does not open a Special Enrollment Period. So check your 60-day Marketplace window first.
- Read the exclusions. Learn how short-term health insurance handles pre-existing conditions and what short-term health insurance covers.
- Plan your exit. See how long you can have short-term health insurance.
- Compare your other options: short-term vs. ACA, COBRA vs. short-term and tri-term vs. short-term.
Sources: UnitedHealthcare Product Availability Grid (form 42839b-X-0826, current as of August 28, 2026); U.S. Departments of Labor, HHS and Treasury statement on short-term, limited-duration insurance (August 7, 2025).
Short-term health insurance is short-term, limited-duration insurance. It is not comprehensive health coverage. It does not qualify as Minimum Essential Coverage under the Affordable Care Act and may not include all essential health benefits. Federal premium tax credits and cost-sharing help do not apply. Plans may have lifetime or dollar limits. They are medically underwritten and generally exclude pre-existing conditions. Plan lengths and availability vary by state and carrier. If this coverage ends, you may need to wait for open enrollment to get ACA coverage. Vivna Insurance is an independent, licensed insurance broker, not an insurance company. Plans are issued by the carriers that underwrite them.
🗺️ Where Short-Term Plans Are Available
Short Term Health Insurance from UnitedHealthcare is available through Vivna in 29 states. Dark blue states offer these plans. In addition, every state page shows your ACA options.
📍 Browse All State Guides
Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington, D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Not sure which plan fits? A licensed agent can compare options in your state at no cost. Call 888-730-6031 today.
❓ Short Term Health Insurance FAQs
Short Term Health Insurance can protect you during a gap in coverage. Below, our licensed agents explain how these UnitedHealthcare plans work, where they are sold, and who they fit.
⏱️ How Short-Term Plans Work
What is short-term health insurance?
It is temporary medical coverage for people between plans. For example, it can help after a job loss or while you wait for new coverage. In general, these plans cover services like doctor visits, emergency care, and hospital stays. However, they are not ACA plans. Learn how they compare in short-term vs. ACA coverage.
How long does short-term coverage last?
UnitedHealthcare short-term plans run from one month to just under 12 months, depending on your state. Need longer protection? Then Tri-Term plans can last up to 36 months in select states. See how long you can have short-term health insurance. However, each plan has a set end date, so mark it on your calendar. That way, you can line up new coverage on time.
How fast can coverage start?
Coverage can often start as soon as the day after you apply. Plus, you can apply any time of year, without waiting for open enrollment. That makes these plans useful when you face a sudden life change. Simply pick a start date and answer a few health questions.
📍 Coverage Limits & Availability
Does short-term insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Usually not. Short-term plans can exclude conditions you had before coverage began. They also may limit or skip some benefits, such as maternity care. Because of this, people with ongoing conditions often do better with an ACA plan. Learn more about short-term health insurance and pre-existing conditions, then compare both on our health insurance page.
Can short-term insurance help between jobs?
Yes, it is one of the most common reasons people buy it. Often, it costs less than COBRA for healthy people. Still, compare every option before you decide. Read our guides for life without employer coverage and COBRA vs. short-term health insurance.
Which states offer short-term health insurance through Vivna?
Currently, Vivna sells UnitedHealthcare short-term plans in 29 states. For example, popular choices include Florida, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, and Ohio. Rules and prices vary by state, however. To see your options, open your page from our state coverage hub. In Arizona, for example, plans can last up to 36 months; see our Arizona short-term guide.
💲 Costs & Expert Help
How much does short-term coverage cost?
Short-term premiums are often lower than unsubsidized ACA plans. Of course, your price depends on age, location, deductible, and term length. However, you cannot use tax credits with these plans. So compare your total costs, not just the premium. Also, check what short-term health insurance covers before you buy.
Why buy short-term coverage through a licensed agent?
First, our licensed agents explain what each UnitedHealthcare plan covers and excludes. We also check whether an ACA plan might save you more. Best of all, there is no cost for this help. So call 888-730-6031 or request a free quote online today. Learn more about UnitedHealthcare coverage and its plan options.
Answers are general, and plan details vary by carrier and state. Call 888-730-6031 to confirm your options.
📚 Short-Term Health Insurance Tips & Guides
Coverage decisions are easier when you know the basics. So our licensed agents write these guides to explain your options, costs, and enrollment. Then, if a question comes up after reading, call 888-730-6031 anytime.
📚 More Short-Term Health Insurance Guides
- Health Insurance Between Jobs: How to Bridge the Gap
- Can I Buy Health Insurance After Open Enrollment Ends?
- ACA Compliant Coverage: Your Alternatives to a Standard Marketplace Plan
- COBRA vs Marketplace: Which Is Better After a Job Loss?
- Seasonal Worker Health Insurance: Coverage When Your Income Rises and Falls
- Part-Time Health Insurance: Your Options and the 30-Hour Rule
- Off-Exchange Health Insurance: Buying a Plan Outside the Marketplace
- Cheap Health Insurance for Young Adults: 7 Smart Options
🧩 Related Coverage & FAQs
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Have questions about health, dental, vision, life, or supplemental coverage? Our licensed agents compare your options, and our help costs you nothing. So start your quote below, or call 888-730-6031 to talk with an agent today.
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