Best Short-Term Health Insurance in Montana (2024)

Short-term health insurance typically lasts for a year. However, coverage can be as little as a few weeks or extend beyond the one-year mark. It fills temporary coverage gaps that may occur if someone misses open enrollment or is between jobs.

Short-term health insurance is not ACA-compliant, so it doesn’t always cover essential health benefits. Additionally, providers can reject applicants based on pre-existing conditions or medical histories.

The two companies with the best short-term health insurance in Montana are National General Accident & Health and UnitedHealthcare, with scores of 95 and 70, respectively. However, the best short-term health insurance combines affordability with coverage that is unique to you.

Keep in mind that market-based plans that include necessary medical benefits are superior to short-term health insurance. By looking into subsidies, you might be able to find a market plan with coverage that is better than a short-term plan at a comparable price.

With a MoneyGeek score of 95 out of 100, the best short-term health insurer in Montana is National General Accident & Health.

The second and third-place companies include:

• UnitedHealthcare: 70 out of 100
• Independence American Insurance Company: 70 out of 100

These companies were selected based on the range of cost-sharing options and average maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) costs. The winner’s average MOOP is $7,500, while the runner-ups are approximately $11,833 and $12,833, respectively.

With an average MOOP of $7,500, National General Accident & Health offers the cheapest short-term health insurance in Montana.

Lower premiums can be good, but they typically come with higher out-of-pocket expenses. When selecting a plan based on cost, make sure the coverage is sufficient for your needs.

When you are between jobs, cheap premiums may seem preferable. However, they generally come with high MOOPs, which is not ideal if you will need a doctor regularly.

After evaluating premiums and cost-sharing options, MoneyGeek found that the best short-term health insurance between jobs in Montana includes:

• Independence American Insurance Company: $130 per month
• UnitedHealthcare: $143 per month
• National General Accident & Health: $148 per month

These companies all offer average monthly premiums between $130 and $150. That said, Independence American Insurance Company has the edge since it offers 12 plan options.

The purpose of short-term health insurance, which typically lasts no longer than a few months, is to serve as a substitute until you can get long-term coverage. Rather than being a preventive strategy, it is more of an emergency plan.

In Montana, you can be covered in a plan for 364 days and then renew it. This keeps you covered for more than a year. You can repeat this process up to three times and purchase an additional policy.

In addition, despite the fact that lengthier durations are permitted, all of Montana's plans are now only offered with six-month terms.

It can be challenging to navigate the nuances of Montana's short-term health insurance options. To make this process easier, MoneyGeek answered the following frequently asked questions.