Karen Condor

Insurance and Finance Writer

Karen Condor is an insurance and finance writer who has degrees in both journalism and communications. She began her career as a reporter covering local and state affairs. Her extensive experience includes management positions in newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and online marketing content. She has utilized her researching, writing, and communications talents in the areas of human resources...

Insurance and Finance Writer

Jeff Root

Licensed Insurance Agent

Jeff is a well-known speaker and expert in life insurance and financial planning. He has spoken at top insurance conferences around the U.S., including the InsuranceNewsNet Super Conference, the 8% Nation Insurance Wealth Conference, and the Digital Life Insurance Agent Mastermind. He has been featured and quoted in Nerdwallet, Bloomberg, Forbes, U.S. News & Money, USA Today, and other leading...

Licensed Insurance Agent

UPDATED: Dec 9, 2023

Advertiser Disclosure

It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.

Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.

Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about life insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything life insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by life insurance experts.

The Truth in a Nutshell

  • Golden Rule provides short-term health insurance in one-and three-year terms, plus Medicare Advantage plans in 25 states and Washington D.C.
  • For people with permanent health insurance plans, Golden Rule also sells supplemental insurance for additional coverage
  • Some customers love the company for its customer service, but most customers leave terrible online reviews

The cost of healthcare is a source of stress for many American families. Without insurance, even basic medical emergencies can bankrupt a family. People with health insurance fare better, especially if their coverage comes through one of the best health insurance companies.

While nothing makes you realize the value of health insurance like an emergency, coverage is important for much more. With the right insurance plan, you can maintain your health with essential check-ins, diagnostic tests, and yearly flu shots.

Permanent coverage is ideal for individuals and families, but sometimes you need short-term coverage. If you find yourself between permanent plans, Golden Rule Insurance can help. Founded in 1940, Golden Rule serves the residents of 25 states and Washington D.C.

If you need short-term insurance, Golden Rule insurance might be the best option available. However, you can enter your ZIP code into our free tool to compare prices with other companies.

What is Golden Rule health insurance?

Golden Rule insurance started in Illinois and was later bought by UnitedHealthcare in 2003. Although Golden Rule started with standard policies, UnitedHealthcare has repurposed the small company to write short-term plans.

UnitedHealthcare is part of the UnitedHealth Group, a Fortune 500 company and the largest health insurance provider in the country. When you buy an insurance policy from Golden Rule, you’re purchasing the substantial power of UnitedHealth.

While Golden Rule still sells standard insurance, its short-term coverage for families and individuals is its leading seller. You can also buy critical illness plans, dental insurance, and vision coverage. When you shop with this company, you gain access to over 1.4 million Golden Rule insurance providers.

Golden Rule TriTerm Insurance

For many Americans, health insurance is purchased through their job. However, not everyone can get insurance through the workplace. From being ineligible for benefits to being self-employed, there are plenty of reasons why you might need private insurance. (For more information, read our “Private Health Insurance“).

Ideally, your health insurance policy will last as long as you pay for it. However, there are situations where you might have to wait for a permanent policy, and a short-term plan can get you the coverage you need in those times.

Read More: Can I get health insurance for my girlfriend?

Golden Rule has several options for short-term insurance, the first of which is its TriTerm plan. The TriTerm plan is unique amongst short-term plans because it allows for three years of coverage, and most short-term policies end after one year.

It also offers more expanded access to healthcare services than other short-term plans. Usually, short-term health insurance only covers emergency visits. When you buy TriTerm, you’re covered for emergency visits and preventative services. Preventative services include doctor checkups and annual flu shots.

TriTerm allows anyone on your plan to visit the doctor whenever necessary, such as for sickness or emergency injuries. You can also see the doctor for any reason throughout the year, though the first four times require a $50 copay.

The last benefit to the TriTerm plan that you won’t find in many other short-term policies is the option to add additional coverage. You can add dental, vision, and accident coverage to your TriTerm plan.

Golden Rule Short Term

If you need short-term coverage for a limited period of time, Golden Rule’s Short Term plan might be best for you. While there are numerous reasons you might need short-term coverage, the following are the most common reasons.

  • Your COBRA coverage is about to end
  • There’s a waiting period at your new job for insurance
  • You missed open enrollment
  • Your health is good, you’re under 65, and you want to visit a doctor for a specific reason
  • You’re too old to remain on your parent’s insurance
  • ACA coverage is about to start, but you have to wait
  • You’re about to gain eligibility for Medicare
  • You’ve lost coverage after divorce

Whatever reason you need temporary life insurance, you probably need it fast. Golden Rule’s Short Term plan typically starts right after you sign up.

Read More: Your Guide To Temporary Health Insurance

Golden Rule Medicare Coverage

Besides short-term coverage, Golden Rule also offers Medicare coverage. As long as you’re eligible, you can combine Parts A, B, and D into one convenient plan. Golden Rule’s Medicare plan covers everything Original Medicare does, and you can buy the following additional coverage.

  • Nurse helplines
  • Fitness programs or gym memberships
  • Dental, eye, and hearing coverage
  • Wellness benefits

Nearly 20% of Americans rely on Medicare for their healthcare coverage. While Medicare covers many health services, there are gaps in the coverage. A Medicare Advantage plan can help fill those gaps, and Golden Rule can provide a supplemental plan.

Golden Rule Supplemental Insurance

When you have an insurance policy, it might not cover every healthcare need. In this case, you can buy supplemental insurance to fill in the gaps. Golden Rule offers several choices if you want to expand your healthcare coverage. You can purchase the following supplemental plans.

  • Hospital and doctor
  • Accident insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Vision insurance
  • Critical illness
  • Hospital indemnity
  • Term life
  • SafeTrip travel insurance

With Golden Rule’s Supplemental insurance plans, you can have everything from dental work to vision exams covered.

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How much does Golden Rule insurance cost?

As with all types of insurance, the price you pay is determined by your unique circumstances. However, you can get an idea of how much insurance might cost by looking at the graph below.

Gender and ageShort Term Medical ValueTriTerm ValueShort Term Medical Plus Elite
Female, 25$74.62$84.15$152.26
Male, 25$72.94$85.97$147.06
Female, 35$94.20$114.05$213.09
Male, 35$83.98$97.04$181.34
Female, 45$119.37$155.03$291.30
Male, 45$112.59$139.35$270.24
Female, 55$150.45$207.11$387.82
Male, 55$156.93$212.91$407.98

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While many factors go into your price, Golden Rule mainly looks at your location. Short-term plans don’t ask too many questions about you before you get a quote.

Golden Rule Insurance Reviews

While Golden Rule has some happy customers, online reviews are mostly negative.

The happiest customers note the level of customer service, saying that they are treated as more than just customers. Golden Rule makes sure to handle mistakes quickly, and customers enjoy the variety of provider choices.

Additionally, customers like accessing their accounts with a simple Golden Rule insurance login. However, customers unhappy with their service state that the claims process is a nightmare. Not only is it difficult to file a claim, but they also say Golden Rule is reluctant to make payments.

It’s also said that Golden Rule misrepresents what services you pay for. Many customers thought they were covered for something and were surprised to find out they were entirely responsible for their service.

Professional ratings aren’t much better. The Better Business Bureau doesn’t have a rating for Golden Rule, but it does rate UnitedHealthcare with an A+. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of complaints listed on the site from customers.

A.M. Best also gives UnitedHealthcare a good A-rating, meaning it has strong financial stability.

Find the Best Short-Term Insurance

If you find yourself in need of short-term health insurance for any reason, Golden Rule might be the best choice for you. According to customers, however, you should carefully examine your policy before you sign anything to make sure you understand what will be covered.

If Golden Rule insurance sounds like it can meet your needs, you should still consider other companies to make sure you find the best price. To see rates, enter your ZIP code into our free tool to get started.