HumanaOne expands individual Short Term health insurance product

In these difficult economic times, it is not unusual for people to find themselves temporarily without insurance, through no fault of their own. To fill this need, HumanaOne^®, the individual health arm of Humana, is expanding its individual Short Term health insurance product to five additional states.

“Short Term plans are meant primarily as a bridge to protect people against sudden illness or accident until they can get to another plan.”

Humana’s Short Term product is now available in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Georgia and Kansas. With these additions, HumanaOne now offers Short Term health insurance in 20 states. The product also is available in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin. Plan design varies somewhat by state.

Short Term health insurance offers a timely, affordable health insurance alternative for people in transition, including:

• Students who are about to graduate
• People who are between jobs
• Part-time, temporary or seasonal employees
• Recent retirees not yet eligible for Medicare
• New employees waiting for benefits
• People who are unemployed

“It can be very tempting to forgo health insurance when you’re between jobs or waiting for your benefits to kick in, particularly when you’re young and healthy,” said Steven DeRaleau, chief operating officer of HumanaOne. “But that’s a gamble you could lose, leaving you saddled with medical debt for the next decade or longer.”

In all cases, the application process for a HumanaOne plan is quick and easy. In fact, if eligible, coverage can begin the very next day after the applicant is approved.

Like all HumanaOne products, Short Term health insurance includes great flexibility. Applicants can choose the length of their policy (from 30 days up to six months or one year, depending on the state) the deductible ($500 to $5,000 for individuals or $1,000 to $10,000 for families) and the payment method (credit card, electronic funds transfer, single or monthly check). A discount of up to 20 percent is offered to those who pay the full amount up front.

These plans have a $2 million maximum benefit and include prescription drug coverage. They do not cover preexisting conditions.

“We have other products that may be a better fit if you are looking for long-term coverage,” DeRaleau explained. “Short Term plans are meant primarily as a bridge to protect people against sudden illness or accident until they can get to another plan.”