Short-Term Health Insurance in Indiana (2026)
Need coverage for a few months? Here’s what short-term health insurance looks like in Indiana right now, and the alternatives that usually work better.
Short-term coverage in Indiana
Short-term plans are available in Indiana
Indiana law (HEA 1631 of 2019) allows short-term plans with terms of up to 364 days, renewable for up to 36 months in total, with a benefit cap of at least $2 million. A 2024 federal rule limits new short-term plans to four months in total, but in August 2025 federal agencies said they would not prioritize enforcing it, and as of early 2026 several insurers were selling short-term plans in Indiana, most with terms of four, six or twelve months.
Indiana allows short-term health plans of up to 364 days at a time, renewable for up to 36 months in total, with at least a $2 million benefit cap. A 2024 federal rule limits them to four months, but federal agencies said in August 2025 they would not prioritize enforcing it, and insurers in Indiana are selling them again, most with terms of four, six or twelve months.
Short-term plans are not ACA coverage. The Indiana Department of Insurance warns that they do not cover pre-existing conditions, do not have to cover prescriptions, maternity or mental health care, can turn you down based on your health, and can be cancelled back to the start date if your application left something out.
A short-term plan can make sense for a healthy person with a brief, known gap. If you have ongoing health needs, or your income qualifies you for a subsidy, a Marketplace plan through a special enrollment period or the Healthy Indiana Plan is usually the safer choice.
What short-term plans are, and aren’t
Short-term plans are not ACA-compliant health insurance. Where they’re sold, insurers can ask about your health, decline to cover pre-existing conditions, and leave out benefits like maternity care, mental health care or prescriptions. They don’t qualify for premium tax credits.
They can make sense for a healthy person filling a short, known gap. For anyone with an ongoing condition, or who might qualify for subsidies, a Marketplace plan is usually the better choice.
Indiana questions
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Indiana law allows terms of up to 364 days, renewable for up to 36 months in total. A 2024 federal rule sets a four-month limit, but federal agencies said in 2025 they would not prioritize enforcing it. Many insurers sell shorter terms, such as four, six or twelve months.
Usually not. The Indiana Department of Insurance says short-term plans do not cover pre-existing conditions and can deny you based on your health. They also do not have to cover prescriptions, maternity or mental health care.
Yes, short-term plans can be bought at any time, unlike Marketplace plans. But they can be cancelled back to the start date if your application missed a health condition. If you have a job loss or other qualifying event, check whether a Marketplace plan is open to you first.
Sources
Reviewed October 2026. Rules and prices change every year; a licensed agent will confirm what applies to you.
