New Report Highlights Health Insurance Opportunities With Short-Term Plans

NAPLES, Florida, Jan. 24 -- The Foundation for Government Accountability issued the following news:

A new report released by the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) details how short-term plans offer affordable, flexible health insurance options for millions of Americans priced out of the health insurance marketplace.

Between 2013 and 2017, health insurance premiums in the individual market more than doubled, leaving millions of Americans with few options and pricing millions more out of the market altogether. Short-term plans are affordable, temporary insurance plans that offer an alternative solution for individuals and families looking for more affordable options. Short-term plans can be purchased at any time, unlike most plans on the individual market, and offer more flexibility in plan options.

As of October 2018, Americans have had the ability to purchase short-term plans in states where such plans are allowed. According to the report, 2.5 million uninsured Americans stand to gain health insurance under short-term health plans, yet many states have barriers in place preventing Americans from accessing them.

"Nearly 30 million people are uninsured today, and millions more are paying expensive out-of-pocket costs for limited choices," said Greg George, FGA senior research fellow and co-author of the report. "The Trump administration gave states the flexibility to provide their citizens with access to more affordable health insurance options through short-term plans, and states need to take advantage of these plans."

The full report can be found here (https://thefga.org/research/short-term-plans-affordable-options-for-americas-uninsured/).