# Substitute Insurance

> Plain-English research on short-term and temporary health insurance — coverage for between jobs, waiting on a new employer's plan, waiting to join a spouse's or family plan, or traveling — plus how COBRA, ACA Marketplace special enrollment and fixed indemnity plans compare, and a connection to licensed agents near you.

Substitute Insurance is an independent directory. People describe what they are looking for; the platform matches them with independent agents. Content is educational only — not professional advice. Part of the R0cketShip network.

## Explore
- [Short-term health insurance](https://substituteinsurance.com/explore/short-term-health-insurance): How short-term (limited-duration) health plans work and who they fit.
- [COBRA continuation coverage](https://substituteinsurance.com/explore/cobra): Keeping your exact former employer plan after a job change, and how it compares to other options.
- [Marketplace special enrollment](https://substituteinsurance.com/explore/marketplace-enrollment): Qualifying for an ACA Marketplace plan outside open enrollment after a job loss or other life change.
- [Health insurance between jobs](https://substituteinsurance.com/explore/between-jobs): Options for covering the gap after leaving one job and before the next plan starts.
- [New employer waiting periods](https://substituteinsurance.com/explore/employer-waiting-period): Bridging the gap while a new job's health benefits are still pending.
- [Temporary travel medical insurance](https://substituteinsurance.com/explore/travel-medical): Short-term medical coverage for trips abroad and temporary time living outside the country.
- [Fixed indemnity insurance](https://substituteinsurance.com/explore/fixed-indemnity): Fixed-benefit plans that pay a set cash amount per covered event, and how they differ from major medical coverage.

## Specialties
- [Short-term health insurance](https://substituteinsurance.com/modalities/short-term-health-insurance): short-term limited-duration plans, renewable short-term plans where allowed
- [COBRA continuation coverage](https://substituteinsurance.com/modalities/cobra-continuation): COBRA continuation of a former employer plan, state mini-COBRA where it applies
- [Marketplace special enrollment](https://substituteinsurance.com/modalities/marketplace-special-enrollment): ACA Marketplace plans via special enrollment, subsidy-eligible coverage
- [New-job waiting period coverage](https://substituteinsurance.com/modalities/employer-waiting-period): coverage during a new employer's waiting period, short-term bridge plans
- [Bridge & gap coverage](https://substituteinsurance.com/modalities/bridge-gap-coverage): gap coverage between any two plans, coverage while waiting on a spouse's or family plan
- [Temporary travel medical insurance](https://substituteinsurance.com/modalities/travel-medical-insurance): short-term travel medical plans, coverage for trips abroad, expatriate temporary coverage
- [Fixed indemnity insurance](https://substituteinsurance.com/modalities/fixed-indemnity-insurance): fixed indemnity plans, per-event cash benefits

## Who we help
- [Between jobs](https://substituteinsurance.com/for/between-jobs): temporary coverage while between employer health plans
- [Starting a new job](https://substituteinsurance.com/for/new-job-waiting-period): coverage during a new employer's waiting period
- [Waiting to join a spouse's or family plan](https://substituteinsurance.com/for/waiting-on-family-plan): a short bridge until they're eligible on someone else's plan
- [Young adults aging off a parent's plan](https://substituteinsurance.com/for/aging-off-parents-plan): short-term coverage until they enroll elsewhere
- [Early retirees not yet on Medicare](https://substituteinsurance.com/for/early-retirees): bridge coverage until Medicare eligibility
- [Travelers & expatriates](https://substituteinsurance.com/for/travelers): temporary medical coverage while out of the country
- [Self-employed & gig workers](https://substituteinsurance.com/for/self-employed-gig): flexible temporary coverage between contracts
- [People who missed open enrollment](https://substituteinsurance.com/for/missed-open-enrollment): a bridge until the next Marketplace enrollment window

## Key pages
- [Topics A–Z](https://substituteinsurance.com/topics)
- [Answers](https://substituteinsurance.com/answers)
- [FAQ](https://substituteinsurance.com/faq)
- [Full knowledge base](https://substituteinsurance.com/llms-full.txt)
- [HTML sitemap](https://substituteinsurance.com/sitemap)
- [Get matched](https://substituteinsurance.com/find)
- [Agents](https://substituteinsurance.com/providers)
- [Programs & events](https://substituteinsurance.com/events)
- [For agents](https://substituteinsurance.com/for-practitioners)
- [Safety](https://substituteinsurance.com/safety)