A Short-Term Medical Plan May Be the Right Solution

Health insurance premiums continue to rise, leaving many facing a difficult decision.

Some individuals and families have found that Marketplace (ACA) plans now come with monthly premiums that strain their budgets while still requiring high deductibles and significant out-of-pocket costs before many benefits begin.

As a result, many people have made the difficult decision to go without health insurance altogether.  This can be a life altering financial decision in a health emergency.

For healthy individuals, there may be another option.

What Is a Short-Term Medical Plan?

Short-term medical insurance is designed to provide temporary protection against unexpected illnesses and injuries. Think: Catastrophic Insurance. These plans can run anywhere from 1 to 6 months at a time.   The state law limits one company to 185 days of coverage per 365 days as a maximum, however, some carriers only allow shorter durations with their own internal rules.  If you need coverage for more than 185 days, you must switch to another carrier for insurance.

These plans are intended for people who want coverage for major medical events, while understanding that certain services, like preventative care, are not covered.

If you qualified, a short-term plan can provide valuable financial protection at a fraction of the monthly cost of traditional health insurance.

What Does a Short-Term Medical Plan Cover?

Most short-term medical plans help pay for expenses related to:

• Hospitalizations
• Emergency room visits
• Surgery
• Physician visits for new illnesses
• Diagnostic testing
• Major accidents
• Serious illnesses

If an unexpected medical event occurs, these plans can help protect you from the financial impact of large medical bills.

What Isn’t Covered?

Short-term medical plans are not comprehensive health insurance and generally do not cover:

• Pre-existing medical conditions
• Routine preventive care
• Annual physicals
• Immunizations
• Maternity care
• Mental health services
• Chiropractic care
• Most prescription drug benefits
• Routine wellness services

Short Term policies are not “qualifying insurance” and therefore do not follow the rules set forth in the Affordable Care Act. Because of these limitations, short-term plans are generally best suited for individuals who are relatively healthy and primarily want protection against unexpected medical emergencies.

Is a Short-Term Medical Plan Right for You?

Every situation is different.

A short-term medical plan may be worth considering if you:

• Missed the Marketplace Open Enrollment Period.
• Are between jobs or waiting for employer coverage to begin.
• Recently lost other health insurance coverage due to non payment.
• Are healthy and primarily want protection against major medical expenses.
• Are looking for a lower monthly premium than many Marketplace plans.

Rather than remaining uninsured, many Michigan residents choose a short-term plan to help protect themselves financially until they become eligible for other health insurance options.

We’re Here to Help

At Health Insurance Experts, we’ll explain your options and help you determine whether a short-term medical plan makes sense for your situation.  Give us a call and we can provide quotes for you and/or your family ranging from just the basic emergency coverage to those options with a few more advantages.

Curious is you would qualify?  If you have to answer yes to any of the below, we would NOT be able to submit an application for short term coverage.

Are you 65 and 11 months or older?

Over 300 lbs (if male) or over 250 lbs (if female)?
Now pregnant, an expectant parent, in the process of adopting a child or undergoing infertility treatment?

For any of the following conditions within the last 5 years, have you or any person to be insured received any abnormal
test results or medical or surgical treatment, or consulted a health care professional, or taken medication for:
Any heart disorder?
Any emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
Any Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or hepatitis B, C, D or other?
Any AIDS or tested positive for HIV?
Any stroke?
Any diabetes, except gestational diabetes?
Any cancer or tumor (except basal cell skin cancer) which has been removed?
Any alcoholism, chemical dependency, drug or alcohol abuse?

A notable drawback: If any of the above conditions do occur while you are on coverage, you will not be able to apply for new coverage with another carrier once your plan expires. This is important for those who are looking to utilize a couple of different companies for coverage beyond 6 months in a year.

Coverage availability and plan benefits vary by state, carrier, eligibility, and underwriting. Short-term medical plans are not ACA Marketplace plans and do not provide all of the essential health benefits required under the Affordable Care Act.

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6 Ways to Lower Prescription Drug Costs in 2026

If your medications cost more than they did a few years ago, you are not alone. Rising prescription drug costs continue to affect millions of Americans, including people with Medicare, employer-sponsored insurance, Marketplace coverage, and comprehensive health plans.

The most successful strategy is often combining multiple approaches.

Consumers can potentially lower prescription costs by:

• Comparing pharmacy prices
• Using GoodRx discounts
• Reviewing TrumpRx and government program pricing
• Exploring manufacturer copay assistance
• Evaluating Canadian pharmacy options
• Reviewing Medicare prescription drug coverage annually

No single solution works for everyone. The best approach depends on your medications, insurance coverage, and overall healthcare needs.

1. Compare Pharmacy Prices Before Filling Your Prescription

Prescription prices can differ significantly between pharmacies, even for the same medication.

Comparing pharmacy prices is one of the easiest ways to save money on prescriptions. Many insurance companies have a preferred pharmacy that offers the best price when utilizing your coverage.  Checking multiple pharmacies may uncover lower pricing options that can reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.

2. Use GoodRx and Other Prescription Discount Programs

One of the most popular tools for prescription drug savings is GoodRx.

GoodRx allows consumers to:

• Search medications quickly
• Compare pharmacy prices
• Access discount coupons
• Use the service free, but obtain additional discounts through membership programs

Many consumers are surprised to learn that the GoodRx price may sometimes be lower than their insurance copay. This is why many healthcare professionals recommend comparing GoodRx vs insurance pricing before filling a prescription.

3. Check Cash Prices Through TrumpRx

TrumpRx provides consumers with another way to compare prescription drug prices and identify potential savings opportunities. The platform offers transparency into discounted pricing for both brand-name and generic medications. Consumers can compare cash prices against their insurance copays and determine which option provides the best value.

As prescription drug costs continue to rise, comparing insurance pricing against cash-pay programs has become an increasingly important strategy for reducing healthcare expenses.

4. Look for Manufacturer Copay Assistance Programs

Some drug manufacturers offer copay savings cards designed to reduce out-of-pocket costs for eligible patients. These programs are more common for newer brand-name medications that do not yet have generic alternatives.

Patients searching for ways to lower prescription costs should always check whether manufacturer assistance is available before paying full price.

5. Review Your Medicare Part D Coverage Every Year

One of the most effective ways to lower prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries is to review Medicare prescription drug coverage annually.

Many people automatically renew their existing plan each year without realizing that formularies, premiums, deductibles, and pharmacy networks frequently change.

Finding the best Medicare Part D plan depends on your specific medications, preferred pharmacies, and healthcare needs. A plan that worked well last year may no longer provide the best value this year.

6. Consider Canadian Pharmacy Pricing

For many brand name medications, Canadian pharmacies may offer substantial savings compared to U.S. retail prices.

Consumers searching for prescription drug savings often compare Canadian pricing for maintenance medications that are taken long term.

We can help identify pricing differences and determine whether international pharmacy options may provide meaningful savings, which can be as high as 80-90% less than the U.S.

The Bottom Line

Healthcare and prescription costs change every year. Regularly reviewing your medications and available savings opportunities can help ensure you’re never paying more than necessary.

Need assistance reviewing your Medicare prescription drug coverage? A licensed health insurance professional can help analyze your medications, compare available plans, and identify opportunities to lower prescription costs both now and in the future.  Please give us a call, we would love to see if we can help!

The post Save Money on Prescriptions appeared first on Health Insurance Experts, LLC.

What Should You Do If Your Health Insurance Agent Disappears?

One of the most common complaints I hear from consumers is surprisingly simple:

“My agent won’t call me back.”

Maybe you’ve left multiple voicemails. Maybe you’ve sent emails and received no response. Perhaps you’ve been trying for two weeks or more to get an answer to a simple question.

It’s frustrating, especially when you’re dealing with something as important as your health insurance.

The good news is that if your agent disappears, your insurance coverage is still safe. Your policy belongs to you and is backed by the insurance company—not the agent. Your premiums, benefits, and coverage remain in force even if your agent stops returning calls.

Start by Contacting the Agency

If your agent works for an agency, call the main office and ask to speak with a manager.

Explain the situation and let them know you’ve been unable to get a response despite multiple attempts. Most reputable agencies want satisfied clients and will either address the issue or assign another representative to help.

Document Your Communication Attempts

Whenever I suspect someone is avoiding communication, I start documenting everything.

Keep a record of:

• Dates and times of phone calls
• Voicemail messages left
• Emails sent
• Text messages
• Responses received (if any)

Good documentation can be extremely valuable if questions arise later about what was communicated and when.

YOU CAN CHANGE AGENTS

If you’ve lost confidence in your current representative, you can request a new Agent of Record without affecting your coverage, premiums, or benefits. Your policy stays exactly the same.  Many people don’t realize that they are free to change agents.

If you’re considering a change, don’t feel like you’re stuck. A good agent should be willing to review your current coverage, answer your questions, and help you understand your options before asking for your business. The goal is to find someone you trust to be there when you need them.

A new agent can often take over servicing your account and help with:

• Coverage questions
• Claims assistance
• Enrollment issues
• Renewal reviews
• Medicare questions
• Marketplace plan changes

Why This Happens

Unfortunately, not every insurance professional focuses equally on service.

Some organizations place a heavy emphasis on new sales and less emphasis on ongoing client support. Others build their business around long-term relationships and helping clients long after the initial enrollment.

The difference becomes obvious when you need help.

A good agent doesn’t disappear after the application is submitted. They remain available to answer questions, help solve problems, and advocate for their clients when issues arise.

Marketplace and Medicare Members Have Options

If you have an Affordable Care Act Marketplace plan, you can update your information through HealthCare.gov and assign a new agent if needed.

If you have Medicare coverage, you can authorize a new broker to become your representative and help manage your plan going forward.

In both cases, changing agents does not affect your coverage.  The new agent you choose can also have you sign an AOR Form and submit it to the carrier on your behalf.

The Bottom Line

Health insurance can be confusing enough without having to chase down the person who is supposed to be helping you. Over the years, I’ve spoken with many people who reached out only after becoming frustrated with poor communication. In most cases, their biggest concern wasn’t finding a new plan—it was finding someone who would actually answer the phone, explain things clearly, and be available when questions came up. That’s a reasonable expectation, and it’s one every insurance professional should strive to meet.

The best insurance relationships don’t end after enrollment—they begin there.

If you’re currently dealing with an unresponsive agent and simply need answers, don’t hesitate to reach out to a trusted local professional for guidance. Even if you ultimately keep your current coverage, a knowledgeable and responsive advisor can help you understand your options and point you in the right direction.

The post Is Your Health Insurance Agent Missing in Action? appeared first on Health Insurance Experts, LLC.