Short-Term Health Insurance in Virginia (2026)

Short-term coverage in Virginia

Short-term health plans are sold in Virginia, but state law keeps them short. A plan can last no more than 3 months, and you cannot have more than 6 months of short-term coverage in any 12-month period, including renewals. Insurers also cannot sell these plans during open enrollment.

Short-term plans do not have to follow ACA rules, so they can turn you down or exclude pre-existing conditions, and they do not qualify for tax credits. Virginia does require them to cover some basics, such as emergency care, hospital and doctor services, surgery and lab work.

For most people, a Marketplace plan is the safer choice, especially if you have ongoing health needs. If you lost other coverage, you likely have a 60-day special enrollment period, and a short-term plan works best only as a brief bridge.

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.