Short-term health insurance in South Carolina.
Between jobs, waiting on a new employer plan, or missed open enrollment? A short-term plan can cover you for a set stretch of time. It can cost less each month than a Marketplace plan without a subsidy, and it covers a lot less. We sell both, so we will tell you plainly which one fits. You can apply online right now.
When a short-term plan makes sense.
Short-term coverage is a bridge, not a destination. These are the situations where it tends to fit, and the one where it does not.
Between jobs
You left one job and the next one has a waiting period before its health plan starts.
Missed open enrollment
The Marketplace window closed and you do not have a life event that lets you enroll now. Short-term plans are sold all year.
A few months short of 65
You retired early and need something to carry you until Medicare starts.
Healthy, with no subsidy
No ongoing conditions, and your income puts you over the line for a Marketplace premium tax credit, so full-price Marketplace coverage is hard to justify.
Your spouse and kids, too
A spouse and dependents can be on the same application. Anyone else needs an application of their own.
When it does not fit
You have an ongoing condition, take regular prescriptions, or are pregnant or planning to be. Pre-existing conditions are not covered, so a Marketplace plan is usually the right call.
IMPORTANT: This is a short-term, limited-duration policy, NOT comprehensive health coverage
This is a temporary limited policy that has fewer benefits and Federal protections than other types of health insurance options, like those on HealthCare.gov
| This policy | Insurance on HealthCare.gov |
|---|---|
| Might not cover you due to preexisting health conditions like diabetes, cancer, stroke, arthritis, heart disease, mental health & substance use disorders | Can’t deny you coverage due to preexisting health conditions |
| Might not cover things like prescription drugs, preventive screenings, maternity care, emergency services, hospitalization, pediatric care, physical therapy & more | Covers all essential health benefits |
| Might have no limit on what you pay out-of-pocket for care | Protects you with limits on what you pay each year out-of-pocket for essential health benefits |
| You won’t qualify for Federal financial help to pay premiums & out-of-pocket costs | Many people qualify for Federal financial help |
| Doesn’t have to meet Federal standards for comprehensive health coverage | All plans must meet Federal standards |
Looking for comprehensive health insurance? Visit HealthCare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325) to find health coverage options. To find out if you can get health insurance through your job, or a family member’s job, contact the employer. Questions about this policy? For questions or complaints about this policy, contact your State Department of Insurance. Find their number on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ website (naic.org) under "Insurance Departments."
What a short-term plan does not do.
A short-term plan is not comprehensive health coverage and does not have to follow the Affordable Care Act. It does not cover pre-existing conditions, it is not guaranteed to be issued, and it does not qualify for federal help with premiums or out-of-pocket costs.
It is also not renewable. When it ends you can apply for a new one, but approval is not automatic. If you are turned down, you may have to wait for the next open enrollment to get Marketplace coverage. Every plan has a maximum it will pay for covered services, and some services, like maternity care, mental health care, and prescriptions, have extra limits or are not covered.
If a health question on the application is answered wrong, the carrier can cancel the policy back to the start and refund what you paid, as though it never existed. That is why our application asks the carrier’s health questions word for word and has you sign your answers. Take your time with it.
Federal rules on how long a short-term plan can last are being rewritten, and the plan lengths carriers offer change with them. We will tell you exactly what is available on the day you apply.
- Pre-existing conditions are not covered
- Not eligible for Marketplace premium tax credits
- Not renewable: a new plan means a new application
- Compared against a Marketplace plan before you buy
Cost for our help
We sell Marketplace plans and short-term plans, so we have no reason to push you toward either one. If a Marketplace plan fits you better, we will say so.
Start my applicationThree steps. About 60 seconds to start.
Tell us about you
Send the form above or call or text 803-848-0089. No SSN required to get started.
We shop the market
We run your details across every relevant carrier we represent and bring you the strongest fits, side by side.
You pick. You sign.
You choose a plan and sign your answers online. The carrier reviews your health answers before it approves the plan, and we tell you the start date once it is confirmed.
Proudly serving Sumter, Columbia, Manning, Camden, Florence, Bishopville, Lugoff, Hartsville, Lexington, Greenville, Spartanburg, Myrtle Beach, and Charleston, plus all 46 South Carolina counties. See our full service area →
How the application works
The application is online and takes one sitting. Here is what to have ready.
You will need the name and date of birth of everyone applying (plus gender for anyone you add), your home address, and the date you want coverage to start. Then come the carrier’s health questions: things like treatment in the last six months, testing or referrals in the last 24 months, and whether anyone has been turned down for coverage in the last five years. They apply to everyone on the application, so check with your family before you answer.
At the end you sign your answers, right on the screen. A licensed agent reviews the application with you before you buy anything, and if a Marketplace plan looks like the better fit, we will tell you before you buy.
Not sure short-term is right for you? Start with our health insurance page, or call us and we will walk through both options side by side.
- Everyone’s name and date of birth
- Your home address and the start date you want
- Honest answers to the health questions, for every person
- A signature at the end, on your phone or computer
Compare it first
If anyone on the application has an ongoing condition, a Marketplace plan is almost always the safer choice. A two-minute call tells you which way to go.
Short-term health questions, answered
Is short-term health insurance the same as an ACA plan?
No. A short-term plan does not have to follow the Affordable Care Act. It does not cover pre-existing conditions, it does not have to cover the essential health benefits a Marketplace plan covers, and it does not qualify for premium tax credits. It is a temporary bridge, not a replacement for comprehensive coverage.
Does short-term health insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
No. Short-term plans do not cover pre-existing conditions, whether or not the application asks about them. If you or someone on your application has an ongoing condition, a Marketplace plan is usually the better choice.
How long does a short-term plan last in South Carolina?
It depends on the carrier and on federal rules, which are being rewritten. Plans are not renewable: when one ends, you apply for a new one. We will tell you what plan lengths are available on the day you apply.
Can I buy a short-term plan outside open enrollment?
Yes. Short-term plans are sold all year, not just during Marketplace open enrollment. Approval depends on your answers to the carrier’s health questions.
Can my spouse and children be on the same plan?
Yes. A spouse and dependents can be on the same application. Anyone else, like a parent or roommate, needs a separate application.
Does it cost anything to use Griffin Insurance Agency?
No. Our help costs you nothing. We will compare a short-term plan against a Marketplace plan with you and tell you straight which one fits.
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261 Broad St, Suite A5
We're on Broad Street in Sumter, a few minutes from downtown and Swan Lake Iris Gardens, and about 15 minutes from the Shaw AFB main gate. Walk-ins welcome.
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Sat – Sun: Closed
Based in Sumter and licensed across South Carolina. We serve Sumter, Manning, Camden, Bishopville, Lugoff, Columbia, Florence, and every county in between.