Best Short-Term Health Insurance in Florida (2024)

Depending on your requirements, a short-term health insurance policy can cover you for a few weeks to more than a year. It can provide coverage if you are unemployed or miss open enrollment.

Short-term health insurance does not comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements, so it doesn’t typically cover essential health benefits. It’s not intended to replace marketplace plans, and if you research potential subsidies, you may find a marketplace plan that provides higher coverage at a comparable cost. In addition, short-term health insurance providers can reject applicants with pre-existing conditions.

Florida’s best short-term health insurance providers are National General Accident & Health and Everest Reinsurance Company, scoring 95 and 85 out of 100, respectively. The best short-term health insurance company for you will offer coverage that meets your needs at a reasonable cost.

According to MoneyGeek's study, National General Accident & Health is Florida’s best short-term medical insurance provider, with a score of 95 out of 100.

The following companies come in second and third:

• Everest Reinsurance Company: 85 out of 100
• Companion Life Insurance Company: 63 out of 100

We selected these insurance carriers based on their average maximum out-of-pocket costs (MOOP) and the different cost-sharing choices they provide. The average MOOPs of the top two companies range from $7,500 to $8,00, while Companion Life Insurance’s average MOOP is significantly higher at $12,483.

With an average MOOP of $7,500, National General Accident & Health provides Florida’s cheapest short-term health insurance. However, note that low premiums usually mean high out-of-pocket costs. Therefore, while selecting a plan based on price, ensure its coverage meets your unique requirements.

People between jobs may need to resort to short-term policies with low rates, even though low premiums typically come with high MOOPs. Therefore, you may need a different option if you frequently visit your doctor.

MoneyGeek analyzed each firm’s prices and cost-sharing options and determined the following are the best providers of short-term health insurance between jobs in Florida:

• Companion Life Insurance Company: $180 per month
• Independence American Insurance Company: $181 per month
• UnitedHealthcare: $184 per month

Monthly premiums for these providers hover around $180. Companion Life Insurance Company stands out in particular because it provides the most affordable rate and has a waiting period that is only moderately long.

Short-term insurance is intended to be a stopgap measure until you can acquire long-term insurance. It often lasts a few months and serves as an emergency strategy rather than a preventive one.

In most cases, you can renew your short-term coverage if you want to extend its duration. In Florida, you can purchase a plan for up to 364 days and renew it for up to 36 months.

MoneyGeek responded to frequently asked questions about short-term health insurance in Florida.