Short-Term Health Insurance in Texas - Coverage for Gaps of 30 Days to 36 Months
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This is a Good Fit If You’re
Between Jobs
Laid off, resigned, or waiting on a new employer plan? Cover the gap without paying $600+/month for COBRA.
Aging Off a Parent’s Plan (Age 26)
Bridge coverage between your 26th birthday and Open Enrollment. Plans starting under $100/month.
Waiting for Open Enrollment
Missed the November-January window and don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period? A short-term plan holds you until January 1.
Self-Employed & Testing a Business
Just left a W-2 job to go solo? Get 12-36 months of coverage while you decide on a permanent plan.
Early Retiree (Under 65)
Retired but not yet Medicare-eligible? Short-term plans can cover the gap without ACA premium spikes.
Traveling or Between Countries
Coming back to Texas after a long trip abroad? Short-term plans work as a bridge until you can enroll in a full plan.
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What Is Short-Term Health Insurance in Texas?
That usually means:
1️⃣ Coverage lasts 30 days to 36 months in Texas
Texas allows the maximum federal window for short-term medical plans. Federal rules cap most states at 3 months (per the CMS 2024 rule), but Texas has kept the extended term. You can enroll in a 30-day, 60-day, 90-day, 6-month, 12-month, 18-month, 24-month, or 36-month plan.
2️⃣ Coverage can start as soon as the next day
Unlike ACA plans, there is no waiting for Open Enrollment. You can apply today and be covered by tomorrow, or select any future start date.
3️⃣ Premiums run 40-70% lower than Marketplace ACA plans
A healthy 30-year-old in Texas typically pays $95-$160/month for short-term coverage compared to $300+/month for a Silver-tier ACA plan without a subsidy.
4️⃣ You choose your deductible and coverage limits
Deductibles typically range from $1,000 to $12,500. Coverage limits (the maximum the plan will pay) run from $250,000 to $2,000,000 per plan period.
5️⃣ You must be medically underwritten to qualify
Short-term plans are NOT guaranteed issue. If you have a serious pre-existing condition, you may be denied coverage or your condition may be excluded from coverage.
Short-term health insurance is not a replacement for ACA coverage if you have chronic conditions or need maternity care. It IS a smart bridge if you’re healthy and just need to close a gap.
Check Your Eligibility for Short-Term Health Insurance
When Short-Term Fits, and When Another Marketplace Alternative Works Better
Here’s how to choose:
1️⃣ Choose Short-Term if you need to bridge a defined gap
Short-term is built for a specific job: to cover you between jobs, between plans, or between life stages. A tobacco-free 30-year-old in Texas typically pays $95 to $160 a month, coverage can start as soon as the next day, and you can keep the plan for up to 36 months. The trade-off: pre-existing conditions are excluded, and maternity is not covered. If you are healthy and the gap is under three years, this is almost always the cheapest option.
2️⃣ Choose an Association Health Plan if you are self-employed and need ongoing coverage
If you are 1099, freelance, or run your own small business and need real year-round coverage (not a temporary bridge), an association health plan is often the better route. You get a nationwide PPO network, monthly premiums close to short-term rates, and coverage designed for people without an employer plan.
3️⃣ Choose a Private PPO Plan if you have ongoing conditions or need maternity
For active health conditions, planned pregnancy, or ongoing prescriptions, a private PPO plan directly from top carriers gives you full ACA-equivalent benefits without going through the Marketplace. Higher monthly premium than short-term, no pre-existing condition exclusions, and no enrollment windows.
Short-term health insurance is not a replacement for ACA coverage if you have chronic conditions or need maternity care. It IS a smart bridge if you’re healthy and just need to close a gap.
What Short-Term Health Insurance Actually Costs in Texas
What actually moves your rate:
1️⃣ In your 20s: often $70 to $85 a month
A tobacco-free 25-year-old with a $2,500 deductible often finds short-term coverage around $85 a month. Bump that same 25-year-old to a $5,000 deductible, and the monthly drops closer to $70.
2️⃣ In your 30s: roughly $95 to $105 a month
At age 30, most healthy applicants pay about $105 a month for a $2,500 deductible plan. By 35, that number often falls back near $95 a month once you move to a $5,000 deductible.
3️⃣ Age 45 to 55: about $175 to $315 a month
Age is the biggest lever. A healthy 45-year-old typically pays about $175 a month for a $5,000 deductible plan. At 55, the same coverage runs closer to $315.
4️⃣ Couples and families: about $210 to $310 per household
Couples around age 30 usually pay about $210 a month for two individual short-term policies. A family of three with parents in their early thirties tends to spend about $310 per household.
These are median figures from our book of business in early 2026, not marketing ranges. Your exact rate depends on ZIP code, medical history, and the coverage limit you choose. We pull the actual number side by side on the first call.
What Do Short-Term Health Plans Cover?
Doctor Visits, ER & Urgent Care
Covered on most plans: doctor visits for new illness or injury, emergency room visits, and urgent care. Short-term plans are built for the unexpected, not routine checkups.
Hospitalization & Surgery
Inpatient hospital stays, surgery, diagnostic labs and imaging, and ambulance services are the core protection of every short-term plan we sell, after you meet your deductible.
Coverage Limits You Choose
Deductibles from $1,000 to $12,500 and coverage limits from $250,000 to $2,000,000 per plan period. You pick the balance between monthly premium and out-of-pocket risk.
Pre-Existing Conditions: Not Covered
Most Texas short-term plans use a 12-month lookback. Any condition treated or diagnosed in the 12 months before enrollment is excluded from benefits.
Maternity & Preventive Care: Limited
Maternity and childbirth are excluded from almost all short-term plans. Preventive care is limited, though some plans include an annual physical. Mental health benefits are limited.
Prescriptions, Dental & Vision
Prescription coverage is limited (smaller formulary, higher copays). Dental and vision are available as low-cost add-ons on most short-term plans.
How It Works (3 Simple Steps)
Tell Us About You
Age, ZIP code, tobacco use, and the approximate start and end dates for coverage. Five minutes by phone or web form.
Compare Your Best Options
We pull short-term plans from top carriers. You see premium, deductible, coverage limit, and network side by side.
Enroll With Help
We complete the application together. Underwriting takes minutes to a few hours in most cases. Coverage can start as soon as the next day.
Good Fit vs Not a Fit (Save Time)
This may be a good fit if:
- You are healthy with no chronic conditions or ongoing prescriptions
- You need coverage for a defined gap of 30 days to 36 months
- You want a real PPO network at less than half the price of COBRA
- You are between jobs, waiting for Open Enrollment, or new to self-employment
- You want catastrophic-style protection against major medical events
This may NOT be a good fit if:
- You have ongoing prescriptions or a chronic condition (diabetes, heart disease, or a cancer history)
- You are pregnant or planning a pregnancy in the next 12 months
- You qualify for a premium tax credit that makes the ACA cheaper
- Your Qualifying Life Event still lets you enroll in an ACA plan through a Special Enrollment Period
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Check Eligibility and Get Your Options
A 5-minute conversation tells you exactly which plans fit your budget and your doctors. No pressure, no fees, no obligation.