Health · Chapter 13 · Limited Policies — Circumstances
Short-Term Medical Insurance
Definition
Scaled-down, medically underwritten major medical for coverage gaps. Under Florida law (F.S. 627.6426) a short-term policy must expire less than 12 months after its effective date, and total duration including renewals may not exceed 36 months; every contract must disclose that the coverage need not comply with the ACA. (A 2024 federal rule briefly cut STLDI to a 3-month term / 4-month max, but federal enforcement was suspended in 2025 pending new rulemaking.) In exchange for the low premium: dollar limits on benefits, exclusions such as maternity care and substance abuse/mental health treatment, and pre-existing-condition exclusions.
In plain English
A cheap short-term bridge — with many of the ACA's eliminated restrictions added back in.
Exam tip
Florida's two limits: initial term under 12 months · total duration with renewals capped at 36 months. ⚠️ Older course materials teach "90 days, non-renewable" — that's pre-2017 law. "Between jobs and needs coverage until the new plan starts" → short-term medical.
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