Short-Term Coverage on a Student Budget: The $70 Plan That Still Pays
The student gap
Graduation ends student health coverage before most jobs begin — and the gap often falls outside ACA open enrollment. Campus continuation plans run $200-400/month. STM fills the gap for a fraction of that.
Building the floor
Start with the cheapest compliant STM tier in your state ($70-95 for under-26). Add a standalone accident rider ($12-18/month) — young adults’ most likely claim is an injury, not an illness, and accident riders pay first-dollar. Add a $0 telemedicine rider if the plan doesn’t include it. Skip dental/vision discount riders unless you already have appointments booked. Total floor: roughly $90-110/month with real protection against the two events most likely to hit your bank account.
| Component | Monthly | What it buys |
|---|---|---|
| Base STM tier | $70-95 | Catastrophic illness/injury |
| Accident rider | $12-18 | First-dollar injury payouts |
| Telemedicine | $0-10 | 24/7 consults |
| Total | $90-115 | Gap-coverage floor |
FAQ
Can students buy STM across state lines at school?
Buy where you physically live most of the year; the zip code drives pricing and filing.
Does the university waive enrollment if I show STM proof?
Most schools do — check the waiver deadline, usually July-August.
What happens at my first real job’s 90-day wait?
STM terms of 3 months are designed exactly for that window.