You may need temporary health insurance for several different reasons, including unemployment or being underemployed with a temporary or part-time job. Iowa short term medical insurance also is necessary while you are waiting for long-term health insurance to kick in. It provides an affordable alternative to Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA, insurance.

Preferred provider organizations and health maintenance organizations generally do not provide services for temporary healthcare coverage. Iowa policy holders normally can receive care from any licensed health care provider.

Keep the following three points in mind when you are thinking about buying temporary health insurance in Iowa:

1. Gap coverage between long-term policies is the intended purpose of temporary health insurance. Iowa short-term medical insurance should be replaced by permanent insurance at some point.

2. Iowa temporary medical insurance usually will cover unexpected illness and injury but probably will not pay for preventative care or routine examinations.

3. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, exempts temporary Iowa health insurance and it is not required to be issued or renewed to any applicant. Carriers of this type of insurance also have the option of refusing applicants based on a pre-existing condition.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get general pricing information on IA temporary health insurance policies

A large difference in price exists among policies and premiums, but Iowa temp health insurance will almost certainly cost much more than a long-term policy.

I recommend: Get prices from multiple Iowa temporary medical insurance providers at the Iowa Health Insurance Network. This site will have additional details on choosing a temporary health insurance.

Peruse the types of temporary health insurance policies available in Iowa

IA temporary health insurance often is intended for a specific group or medical condition. It's a good idea to understand the purpose of a given policy before reviewing the details of a policy.

I recommend: Find plan summaries for Iowa temp health insurance at IowaHealthInsurance. These plans are specifically for Iowa residents.

Receive quotes for temporary health insurance in Iowa that have been customized

Your quote is more meaningful when it is based on personal information provided on your application for temporary health insurance. Iowa residents can use websites that will forward your application to multiple Iowa temporary health insurance providers.

I recommend: Complete an application with one of the major carriers available through Solutions Insurance. This provider sells insurance throughout Iowa and have offices in Cedar Rapids and Coralville.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Review your policies for any clauses that provide coverage past the stated termination date of the temporary medical insurance. Iowa temporary health insurance policies frequently will continue paying for total disability until a fixed benefit amount has been spent, a certain time past the termination date has elapsed or the treatment is no longer required
• •  You will often be able to obtain a second policy even though temp health insurance in Iowa generally has a maximum term of six months. However, your total coverage for all plans may not exceed one year.