Best Short-Term Health Insurance in Utah (2024)


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Updated: May 22, 2024

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Short-term health plans make it easy to have temporary health insurance in Utah; they often last less than a year but can be extended. Buying short-term health insurance is ideal when you have a lapse in coverage due to switching jobs or missing open enrollment.

However, these plans aren’t ACA-compliant, which means they won’t provide essential health benefits and may deny you if you have any pre-existing conditions.

MoneyGeek found National General Accident & Health and Independence American Insurance Company are the best options in Utah for short-term health insurance, scoring 95 and 85, respectively. However, the best provider for you might differ based on your needs.

Since short-term plans do not provide essential health benefits, replacing them with a marketplace plan is not wise. If cost is a significant issue, check if you qualify for subsidies to help you get a marketplace plan with better coverage for the same cost as a short-term plan.

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2024

Best Companies for Short-Term Health Insurance in Utah

METHODOLOGY

To determine the best short-term health insurance companies, MoneyGeek analyzed the pricing, plan options and cost-sharing choices for thousands of plans. Within each state, plans were aggregated by company to compile an overview of a short-term health insurance provider. In determining the best short-term providers for specific categories, weights were redistributed to take into account the goal of the health insurance plan.

Please be advised that the costs provided are averages. Actual rates will vary based on consumer profile and location.

Best Overall Short-Term Health Insurance in Utah

MoneyGeek’s research shows National General Accident & Health offers the best short-term medical insurance in Utah, with a score of 95 out of 100. We also found that the following company can be an excellent option for short-term health plans:

  • Runner-Up: Independence American Insurance Company: 85 out of 100

We chose these providers after considering their maximum out-of-pocket costs and cost-sharing options. For instance, National General Accident & Health’s average maximum out-of-pocket is $7,500, while the average MOOP of Independence American Insurance Company is $12,833.

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MoneyGeek Top Pick
National General Accident & Health

National General Accident & Health is a division of National General Holding Corp. and offers health insurance plans for individuals and families, seniors and businesses. The company provides short-term medical, fixed-benefit medical, accident, critical illness and dental plans.

National General Accident & Health’s short-term medical plans offer flexible coverage durations, and some also cover office visits, urgent care and prescription drugs. The company provides access to an extensive network, making it easier to get the necessary coverage.

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CAN I GO WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE?

MoneyGeek does not recommend going without health coverage for a few months rather than getting short-term coverage. If you have a medical emergency, you’ll have to cover expensive medical procedures. For instance, an unplanned surgery can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Best Cheap Short-Term Health Insurance

MoneyGeek analyzed different companies and found National General Accident & Health is the most affordable option for short-term health insurance in Utah. Its average out-of-pocket maximum is $7,500.

While it may be tempting to choose the cheapest provider, know that low premiums usually mean high out-of-pocket costs. If you’re opting for the cheapest short-term health insurance, you must ensure you get sufficient coverage based on your needs.

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MoneyGeek Top Pick
National General Accident & Health

Besides short-term health insurance, National General Accident & Health offers Medicare supplement plans, self-funded group health plans and supplemental health coverage. It has a wide range of deductible, co-insurance and copay options, making it easy to choose a plan that fits your needs.

SHORT-TERM HEALTH INSURANCE LIMITATIONS

Knowing the extent and limitations of short-term health coverage is essential when choosing the right plan for your situation. Short-term health plans don’t replace marketplace plans, as they don’t cover pre-existing conditions or provide essential health benefits and may not renew if you develop a serious disease. Short-term insurance is only suitable for catastrophic expenses in case of medical emergencies.

Best Short-Term Health Insurance Between Jobs

A short-term plan will help you avoid a coverage gap between jobs. While you may want to opt for a plan with the lowest premiums, know that such plans have higher out-of-pocket maximums. However, if you don’t need much medical care, such a plan might work well.

MoneyGeek analyzed the premiums and cost-sharing options of different companies and found that the following offer the best plans if you’re between jobs:

  • Independence American Insurance Company: $144 per month
  • National General Accident & Health: $132 per month

While Independence American Insurance Company charges slightly higher premiums, it offers several plan options, making it our top choice for short-term health plans between jobs.

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MoneyGeek Top Pick
Independence American Insurance Company

The Independence American Insurance Company is a part of the IHC group and a leading provider of group and individual medical insurance, short-term health insurance and pet insurance plans across the U.S.

The company lets you select from two unique plans, called Connect STM and Connect Plus. Both plans provide various co-insurance and deductible options. The Connect Plus plan also offers a $25,000 benefit for eligible pre-existing conditions.

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SHOULD I EXTEND SHORT-TERM HEALTH INSURANCE?

Whether or not to extend your short-term health insurance plan will depend on your circumstances. For instance, if your new job start date is delayed or open enrollment begins in a few months, extending your plan makes sense. However, it’s not wise to keep opting for a short-term health plan over a long-term option. If you’re concerned about the cost of marketplace plans, explore Catastrophic or Bronze options that are cheaper and provide sufficient coverage.

How Does Short-Term Health Insurance Work in Utah?

Know how short-term health insurance works in Utah before deciding whether it’s the right option for your needs. Short-term plans are usually best for a few months and do not provide essential health benefits.

Utah’s law permits you to buy short-term health insurance plans initially for a year and allows you to renew the plan up to three times.

How to Buy Short-Term Health Insurance in Utah

When buying short-term health insurance in Utah, it can be difficult to know where to start. MoneyGeek recommends following these steps to purchase the best plan based on your situation.

1
Determine How Long You Need Coverage

Short-term health plans are usually not the best option for the long term, so determine how long you’ll need coverage.

2
Assess Your Health Care Needs

Since most short-term health plans only cover emergency visits, assess your health care needs. Knowing whether you need prescription drug coverage, frequent medical visits or preventive care will help you pick the right plan.

3
Research Providers and Available Plans

After analyzing your needs, research available providers, coverage details and cost-sharing options. We recommend comparing different insurers to find the one that fits your needs.

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SHORT-TERM HEALTH INSURANCE VS. MARKETPLACE PLANS

Understanding the differences between a short-term health insurance plan and an ACA-compliant marketplace plan will help you choose the ideal option based on your situation. A marketplace plan generally covers preventive care visits and provides essential health benefits. However, you can only get a marketplace plan during the open enrollment period.

In comparison, a short-term health plan won’t provide coverage if you have pre-existing medical conditions and may not include prescription drug coverage. However, such plans usually last a few months and are the best option if you have a lapse in coverage.

FAQs About Short-Term Health Insurance in Utah

MoneyGeek researched the following frequently asked questions to help you understand what short-term health insurance covers in Utah.

What does short-term health insurance cover?
Can you get short-term health insurance with pre-existing conditions?
How long can you stay on short-term health insurance in Utah?
Can you cancel short-term health insurance in Utah?

About Brenna Kelly


Brenna Kelly headshot

Brenna Kelly, the former Health Insurance Content Manager at MoneyGeek, is a licensed health insurance agent and real estate associate. She is qualified to provide expert insight and advice on medical insurance, disability, long-term care, critical illness, Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage Plans.

Kelly has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts in Applied Sociology from the University of Central Florida. She uses her content production experience and health insurance expertise to deliver informative articles.


sources
  • National General Accident and Health. "Short Term Medical." Accessed August 17, 2022.
  • National General Accident and Health. "About Us." Accessed August 17, 2022.