This is a brief overview of how Connecticut short term plans work and how each plan is different. Short Term Health Insurance will cover you if you become ill, have an accident or injury. Coverage includes doctor office visits, inpatient and outpatient hospital, surgery, transplants, x-ray, labs and more. Most plans allow you to choose any doctor or hospital. Many also have PPO network options you can use for extra savings. Coverage can begin as early as 12:01AM tonight. You can also choose a later date. Completing the application takes less than 10 minutes. Most plans have instant online approval if you are eligible. If you can answer NO to the few medical questions you are eligible and the policy is approved. You can apply and pay for your plan online, by mail or fax. Most plans have a 10 day free look period and you can cancel the plan for any reason for a complete refund of the premium. The refund policy may vary by state.

Deductibles and Co-Insurance - If you become ill, have an accident or injury, payments are made according to the deductible and co-insurance that you choose. First you would pay your deductible and then the co-insurance starts. Co-insurance is the amount you are required to pay for medical care after the deductible has been met. The Co-insurance rate is expressed as a percentage and there is a dollar limit. For example, the insurance company may pay 80% of the covered claim, and the insured pays the remaining 20%. This would be called 80/20. If the limit is $5,000, then the insurance company would pay 80% and you would pay 20%. After this, the insurance company pays 100% up to the policy limits. It pays to know what your co-insurance limit is.

Example: - Marc purchased a Short Term Medical plan with a $1,000 deductible and 80/20 Co-insurance (with a $5,000 co-insurance limit).

Marc falls off the roof and breaks his leg. The total medical bill is $15,000. First Marc would pay his $1,000 deductible. Next John would pay 20% of the next $5,000 (the $5,000 is the co-insurance limit) and the insurance company pays 80%. After this, the insurance company pays 100% of the medical bill according to the policy limits.

Marc's total out of pocket: $1,000 deductible + $1,000 for the co-insurance = $2,000

The remaining $13,000 is paid by the insurance company.