How does Service 1st Benefits support my business during open enrollment?

We personally manage the entire open enrollment process — from educating employees to handling enrollment forms and answering plan questions. Our goal is to make open enrollment smooth and stress-free for everyone.

Can employees contact you directly for help?

Yes. Employees can reach out to us anytime for questions about claims, coverage, ID cards, or plan details. We act as your team’s benefits partner, not just your broker.

What size businesses do you work with?

We specialize in serving small and medium-sized businesses, typically ranging from 1–200 employees. If you’re growing or planning to expand, we help scale your benefits as your team grows.

Do you handle communication with insurance carriers for us?

Absolutely. We take care of claims issues, employee changes, renewals, and any carrier communication so you don’t have to spend hours on hold.

Do you offer voluntary or supplemental benefits?

Yes. We can provide optional add-ons like disability, accident, or critical illness insurance to enhance your benefits package at little or no cost to the employer.

What types of group benefits do you offer?

We provide comprehensive group health, dental, vision, and life insurance options for small and medium-sized businesses. We help you compare plans, handle enrollment, and manage carrier communication.

What information do you need to provide a quote?

We typically need: Number of employees Basic employee census (age, gender, ZIP code) Current plan (if applicable) Desired benefits or coverage goals We keep the process as simple as possible.

Do you charge fees for your services?

No. Our services — including plan comparison, open enrollment, and year-round support — are provided at no additional cost to your business.

Short-Term Medical Plans: What They Actually Do and Don't Cover

Service 1st Benefits

2 days ago

2 min read

A short-term medical plan is a coverage option many people use to bridge a gap — between jobs, during a waiting period, or on the way to Medicare. Here's what it's actually structured to cover, and what it isn't.

What a Short-Term Plan Actually Is

Short-term, limited-duration insurance (STLDI) is individual coverage designed to bridge a temporary gap — between jobs, after missing an open enrollment window, or in the stretch before Medicare eligibility kicks in. Oklahoma law currently allows an initial term of under 12 months, with total duration (including renewals) up to 36 months, and the Oklahoma Insurance Department is currently letting approved carriers sell plans on those terms while federal duration limits go unenforced. Nationally, though, many plans run just one to six months, and the rules here can change — so check the specific plan in front of you. These plans are regulated differently than ACA marketplace coverage, and the rules vary by state.

What It Doesn't Have to Cover

Because it isn't ACA-compliant coverage, a short-term plan isn't required to include the law's essential health benefits. In practice, that gap is significant: a 2025 KFF review of 30 short-term products found that about 40% don't cover mental health services, about 40% don't cover substance abuse treatment, and nearly half (48%) don't cover outpatient prescription drugs. Maternity care was excluded by 98% of them.

Pre-Existing Conditions Aren't Protected

Unlike ACA-compliant plans, a short-term insurer can ask health questions during underwriting and exclude or deny coverage based on a pre-existing condition. If something you've already been treated for flares up while you're on a short-term plan, there's a real chance it isn't covered at all.

Why the Premium Looks So Much Lower

The lower monthly cost isn't a bargain in the usual sense — it reflects medical underwriting and a narrower set of covered services, not better value for the same coverage. The savings show up every month; the gap shows up only if you actually need the care that isn't included.

When It Actually Makes Sense

These plans fit a specific, genuinely temporary situation: a short gap between jobs, a missed enrollment window with months to wait until the next one, or a bridge to Medicare. They're not designed to be a long-term substitute for ACA-compliant coverage, and using one that way is where the gaps above tend to matter most.

Final Thoughts

A short-term medical plan is real coverage, not a cheaper version of ACA-compliant insurance — it's a different product operating under a different set of rules, and the lower premium is the tell. Know exactly what's excluded, especially around pre-existing conditions and essential benefits, before relying on one for anything longer than a genuine short gap.