Basically all health insurance policies are designed for protection from costly medical needs and procedures. One of the main differences between short term and regular health insurance is just as the name implies, this type of insurance is intended to be a type of stop-gap coverage to bridge the span of time needed to obtain or qualify for regular health insurance.
Looking at an overview of short term policies in general is an easy way to gain knowledge as to how this type of insurance differs from general visitors health insurance policies. The first requirement is that one must pass a questionnaire before being approved to apply for a policy. In the case of a family plan, each insured individual must complete and pass the same questionnaire.
Another requirement is that one must reside in the US for a period of 1 year before being eligible for a short term policy. Any expenses outside of the US or Canada are not covered.
Most of the short term policies available from various well-known and respected companies offer a maximum of 1 to 2 million dollars coverage for the term of the policy. Short term health insurance policies are available for 30 days to 1 year and are not renewable. In order to continue coverage, one must apply for a new policy.
Deductibles range from $250-$5000 with the chosen deductible amount having to have been used before coverage applies. Also, for family policies, a maximum of three of the chosen deductible amount must be paid out of pocket before coverage begins.