7. Short-Term Health Insurance — Gap Coverage Only
Short-term health insurance plans provide temporary coverage for periods up to 364 days. They are the cheapest health insurance for truck drivers in dollar terms — often $100 to $200 per month — but carry severe limitations. Short-term plans can deny you coverage based on pre-existing conditions, refuse to pay for conditions that existed before the plan took effect, and typically do not cover preventive care, mental health services, or prescription drugs at meaningful levels.
Short-term health insurance is appropriate in one specific scenario: a truck driver who lost their job or changed carriers and needs interim coverage while they wait for their new employer’s group plan to activate or until the next ACA open enrollment period. Using short-term health insurance as a long-term health strategy for truck drivers is a significant financial risk that should be avoided.