When it comes to the wide world of health insurance policies, temporary health insurance policies are in a spot all their own: the processes for selling short term medical insurance are different, and the needs of the customers who seek them are also not the same as for other kinds of health insurance policies. That's why agents pay attention to temporary insurance as a specific "custom" type of insurance plan.

For training in this specific type of insurance, agents or those interested in claims handling or other roles can find training materials and options over the web for outfitting clients with plans to help them through a difficult transition. Look for these kinds of resources online:

1. Links to agent training courses covering the issue of providing college student health insurance or other temporary health insurance to customers.

2. Info pages detailing the types of temporary medical insurance policies available and how they are commonly used.

3. More on temporary individual health insurance from public web forums on all of the different kinds of health insurance policies on the market.

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The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find temporary health insurance training classes and programs

With a little research, agents can find agent training options that include attention to this popular kind of 'interim' insurance. These topics will likely be included in a larger set of criteria in a syllabus or instructional survey.

I recommend: The American Institute for CPCU and Insurance Institute of America is the place to start to find courses on temporary health insurance courses. Find courses that deal with the specifics of selling temporary health insurance to customers through the Education Portal online. COBRA is one of the most common temporary health insurance plans; get certified in COBRA program administration through HRTrainingCenter.com.

Look for information on temporary health insurance from independent web pages

Other sites offer authored articles on short term health insurance: what it is, how it is used, and what kind of value it has to members who hold policies. Learn from these for arranging a career and talking knowledgeably about this kind of policy.

I recommend: Learn about short term or temporary health insurance plans at Self Growth.com. Look at Celtic Insurance Company for agent training presentations.

Get more on temporary health insurance from public web forums

Locate more tips and info on temporary health insurance from web forums where individual posters talk about all of the specific challenges and aspects of doling out temporary health insurance policies to clients.

I recommend: Find posts on short term or temporary health insurance at eHealth forums.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure your temporary health insurance education and training does not neglect the more general aspects of writing insurance policies for customers. Although temporary health insurance is different, there are many 'standard' aspects that remain the same. Pay careful attention to due process to make sure that policies handled by the fully trained staff will be solvent.

Short term health insurance may not be something everyone is familiar with but it could come in handy for you, your family, or someone you know. For this reason, it’s a good idea to understand the basics of temporary health insurance.

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The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Short Term Health Insurance: Who Can Use It?

Temporary health insurance is for anyone under the age of 65 who has never been turned down for health care coverage in the past and who has a gap in their regular insurance benefits. For example, if you are graduating from college and looking for a job then you may be without health insurance for several months. If you lose your job or if you are only working part-time, then you may also be interested in finding affordable temporary health insurance to hold you over.

One of the nice things about temporary health coverage is the cost. The premiums are usually more affordable because the pool of people covered is much healthier than usual. Their good health keeps the medical care costs low and that savings is passed on to you in terms of reduced premiums. You may also want to shop around to find the most affordable short term health insurance available.

I recommend: Talk to a licensed Health Insurance Agent at VitalOne Health Plans

Temporary Health Insurance: How Does It Work?

Temporary health insurance plans do vary, but they generally share some similar characteristics. For example, you can usually see any doctor you choose but you will need to be pre-certified by the insurance company before you are hospitalized. The only exception would be in the case of an emergency.

Different short term health plans cover different things. Most do provide some level of benefit for surgery, hospital stays, emergencies, prescriptions, etc. The only types of treatments not covered are routine and preventative care, such as immunizations. You should always check with your insurance provider if you're not sure what is going to be covered.

You should also be aware that temporary health insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions which helps keep the costs low. The question of what counts as a pre-existing condition does vary from state to state but usually goes back about 36 months.

I recommend: To compare rates between several online websites selling short term health insurance like: Oxonia Health Insurance or Health Insurance Search

Temporary Health Coverage: Is it Renewable?

Most short term health plans initially only last for 6 to 12 months. In many cases that's sufficient. However, if you find that you need to extend your current policies most will allow you to renew the policy for up to 3 years. However, you are not guaranteed renewal.

Some insurance providers will refuse to renew your policy if you've filed claims during your current coverage period. Others will renew you but will consider any injuries or illnesses you had covered under the original policy as pre-existing conditions which will no longer be covered.

While these rules may seem harsh, they are necessary in order to make short term health insurance affordable for the large numbers of people who need it. Remember that this type of medical insurance is only temporary and is not comprehensive but it can help protect your family when you have gaps in your health insurance coverage.

I recommend: Talking to experts in the field that will walk you though the application process.

Whether you need temporary health insurance, also known as short-term health insurance, for a few weeks or several months, it will help to know many temporary health insurance key terms. Temporary health insurance is for those who are between jobs, working temporarily on a part-time basis, are out of work due to a strike, or those who are students. If you find you need temporary health insurance, the following are some key terms you should be familiar with.

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COBRA

COBRA is a type of temporary health insurance that refers to a continuation of existing benefits. COBRA is the acronym for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which gives workers who are laid off, have work hours reduced or who are affected by a life event like divorce or death, the right to continue health benefits coverage through their group health plan.

I recommend: U.S. World & News Report offers information about COBRA, including eligibility, duration and coverage details.

Pre-existing condition

Many temporary health insurance plans do not cover illnesses or injuries that occurred in the recent past. The exact type of illness or injury is different from state-to-state. In general, though, temporary health insurance plans in any state have some sort of pre-existing medical condition clause.

I recommend: JC Lewis Insurance Services offers a brief description of pre-existing conditions.

Indemnity, or fee-for-service

Most temporary health insurance plans allow participants to go to any doctor for any fee. This is called a fee-for-service or indemnity plan. While some temporary health insurance plans may offer a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plan, most use only the indemnity plan.

I recommend: InsureLane explains indemnity and how it works in relation to temporary health insurance plans.

Gap coverage

Gap coverage is another term used in describing temporary health insurance or short-term health insurance. The term refers to the fact that temporary health insurance is usually required when there is a gap in a person's usual health insurance coverage due to temporary circumstances.

I recommend: Find a description and several examples of gap coverage at HealthCare.com.

Deductible and co-insurance

Like many types of insurance, temporary health insurance plans have deductibles and co-insurance payments. The deductible refers to the amount that must be paid out-of-pocket before the insurance company begins to make payments on a claim, and co-insurance is the percentage of charges paid by the participant.

I recommend: Long Term Consumer Care describes how deductibles and co-insurance works with temporary health insurance plans.

HIPAA

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA as it is referred to, sets national standards for health plans, including temporary health insurance plans. HIPAA addresses the safety and privacy of health-care information.

I recommend: Insure.com thoroughly explains HIPAA laws and patient rights in regard to health insurance plans, including temporary or short-term health insurance plans.