Availability of short-term health insurance in Indiana

Yes. As of early 2026, there were at least six insurers offering short-term health insurance in Indiana.

Although at least one carrier offered a policy with a total duration of up to 36 months, most carriers capped their available policies at four, six, or twelve months in duration.

Prior to July 2019, state regulations ensured that short-term health insurance in Indiana couldn’t have terms of more than six months, and couldn’t be renewed. But the state enacted legislation (H.B.1631) in 2019 that changed the rules as of July 1, 2019.

Under the terms of H.B.1631, short-term health insurance in Indiana can have initial terms of up to 364 days, and can have a total short-term plan duration, including renewals, of up to 36 months. But it’s important to note that the plans must also have benefit caps of at least $2 million.²

Now that the federal government is no longer enforcing a 2024 rule change that limited short-term policies to much shorter durations, longer short-term policies are once again available for purchase in Indiana.

Short-term health insurance policies in Indiana can be purchased by residents who meet the underwriting guidelines set by insurers.

Most short-term health insurers will issue coverage to people under 65 years old who don’t have any of the specific medical conditions that will result in a declined application.³ But the underwriting requirements vary from one insurance company to another.

Most short-term health insurance plans exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions, and they often use post-claims underwriting (meaning that they will go back through a person’s medical records after a claim is filed, to make sure it isn’t related to a pre-existing medical condition).⁴

Short-term health plans also generally do not cover all of the ACA’s essential health benefits; the most commonly excluded are maternity care, prescription drugs, and mental health care.⁵ They also tend to impose dollar limits on the coverage they do provide. It’s important to double-check all of the plan information before purchasing a short-term policy, to make sure that you understand the limitations of the plan.

If you need health insurance coverage in Indiana, your first step should be to see whether you’re eligible to enroll in an ACA-compliant major medical plan (Obamacare), and whether you’d qualify for a premium subsidy through the health insurance exchange in Indiana (HealthCare.gov).

Especially if you qualify for a subsidy, the monthly premiums for an ACA-compliant plan may be much less costly than you were expecting, and even lower than the premiums for short-term plans.

In Indiana, open enrollment for ACA-compliant individual/family policies runs from November 1 to December 15. Outside that window, you may qualify for a special enrollment period if you experience a qualifying life event (American Indians and Alaska Natives have a year-round special enrollment period, without needing a qualifying life event). A pre-existing medical condition will not hinder your eligibility for these plans, but the availability of ACA-compliant plans is limited to open enrollment and special enrollment periods.

ACA-compliant plans are purchased on a month-to-month basis, so you can enroll in one even if you’ll only need it for a few months before another policy takes effect. So for example, if you know that you’ll have coverage from a new employer or Medicare within a few months, you can still enroll in an ACA-compliant plan during open enrollment or a special enrollment period, and then cancel it when your new coverage takes effect.

But if you’re unable to enroll in an ACA-compliant individual market plan or a plan offered by an employer, a short-term plan is a better option than remaining uninsured.

Sometimes a short-term health insurance plan might be the only option, or the most realistic option if:

• You missed open enrollment for ACA-compliant coverage and do not have a qualifying event that would trigger a special enrollment period.
• You’ve enrolled in an ACA-compliant individual market plan but have to wait up to several weeks before it takes effect (enrollments completed during open enrollment will take effect January 1, and enrollments completed during a special enrollment period will generally take effect the first of the following month).
• You’ll soon be enrolled in Medicare but don’t have access to other coverage in the meantime. If your Medicare start date is in the following year or later, know that you can enroll in an ACA-compliant plan (with a premium subsidy if you’re eligible) during open enrollment, and then cancel it when your Medicare coverage takes effect.
• You’re newly employed and the employer will provide health coverage, but has a waiting period of up to three months before you can be covered by the employer-sponsored healthcare plan.
• You’re not eligible for Medicaid or a premium subsidy in the exchange/Marketplace, which might mean that an ACA-compliant plan may not fit in your budget. People who are ineligible for subsidies includes undocumented immigrants (who are not eligible for Medicaid or any Marketplace coverage) as well as anyone with a household income above 400% of the federal poverty level.