Which type of health insurance is intended to offer temporary protection during gaps in coverage?

Short-term health insurance is specifically designed to provide temporary coverage for individuals during periods when they do not have health insurance. This type of plan is particularly useful for people who may be transitioning between jobs, waiting for employer-sponsored coverage to begin, or those who are in need of immediate medical support after losing previous insurance.

These plans typically offer lower premiums than traditional long-term health insurance plans, but they also come with limited benefits, such as exclusions for pre-existing conditions and shorter coverage durations. The primary function is to fill in the coverage gaps rather than to serve as a long-term solution, which aligns its purpose closely with transitional periods in an individual’s healthcare needs.

Other types of insurance mentioned, like long-term disability insurance, are designed to provide income replacement if someone cannot work due to a disability and not temporary health coverage. Comprehensive health insurance refers to more extensive coverage that includes a wide array of medical services and is intended for long-term use. Accidental injury insurance offers limited coverage specifically for injuries resulting from accidents, rather than broad healthcare gaps.