Your Main Options
Agency Health Insurance
Most travel therapy agencies offer health insurance to their employees. Coverage quality and costs vary widely between companies. Some provide excellent plans with day-one coverage, while others have waiting periods, high premiums, or limited networks. Always ask your recruiter for plan details and compare the cost against your take-home pay both with and without agency insurance.
ACA Marketplace Plans
Healthcare.gov marketplace plans offer portable coverage that doesn't depend on your agency. You keep the same plan regardless of which company you work for or if you take time off. Plans can't deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. Open enrollment runs November through January, and losing employer coverage qualifies you for a special enrollment period.
Short-Term Health Insurance
An increasingly popular choice for travel therapists, especially during gaps between contracts. Short-term plans typically cost $100 to $250 per month, cover you for up to 12 months, and are renewable. They provide real coverage — doctor visits, emergencies, hospitalizations — not just discount cards. Pre-existing conditions are usually excluded, but for healthy travelers who need affordable bridge coverage, they're a practical option.
Spouse or Partner's Plan
If your spouse or partner has employer-sponsored insurance, staying on their plan may be the simplest and most cost-effective approach. This eliminates the complexity of navigating agency plans or marketplace enrollment entirely.
Avoiding Coverage Gaps
The most common mistake is going uninsured between contracts. Even a short gap can be financially devastating if something unexpected happens.
Bridge strategy: Short-term health insurance is the quickest and most affordable way to cover gaps between contracts. At $100–250/month, it's far cheaper than COBRA (typically $500–700+/month) and can be activated within days. Keep a short-term plan as a backup even if you expect your next contract to start soon — delays happen.
Questions to Ask Your Recruiter
Before signing a contract, get clear answers on insurance: What plans are available? What are the monthly premiums? When does coverage start — day one or after a waiting period? What's the deductible and out-of-pocket max? Does coverage continue between assignments? A transparent agency answers these questions without hesitation.