The best short-term care insurance companies of 2026 include Aetna, Medico, Guarantee Trust Life, and Standard Life & Casualty. Compare 7 top insurers offering up to 360 days of coverage — with lower premiums and easier qualification than long-term care insurance.
Assisted living, in-home care, memory care and nursing homes — current costs by state, plus the four ways families pay for it.
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The best short-term care insurance companies of 2026 are Aetna (CVS Health), Medico, Guarantee Trust Life, Standard Life & Casualty, and Cigna's supplemental lines (learn more about best home care agencies for seniors in 2026: 7 top options compared) (learn more about questions to ask when touring memory care facilities) (learn more about best caregiver support resources in 2026: 7 programs every family should know), which offer coverage for care lasting up to about 360 days at a lower cost (learn more about medicare part a vs. part b: 7 key differences explained (2026)) (learn more about social security optimization strategy guide: maximize your retirement benefits) (learn more about estate planning checklist: protect your legacy) and with easier health qualification than traditional long-term care insurance. Monthly premiums typically run $40–$150 depending on your age, health, and benefit amount. Short-term care insurance is best for adults in their 60s and 70s who want a affordable safety net, or who have been declined for long-term care coverage.
Traditional long-term care (LTC) insurance has become expensive and hard to qualify for, leaving many older adults with a gap. Short-term care insurance — sometimes called recovery care or convalescent care insurance — fills part of that gap. It pays a daily or monthly benefit for care lasting up to roughly a year, whether in a nursing facility, assisted living, or at home. Because the coverage window is shorter, premiums are lower and underwriting is far more lenient. Here are the seven best companies in 2026 and how to choose.
The core difference is duration. LTC insurance covers years of care and is priced and underwritten accordingly — high premiums and strict health screening. Short-term care insurance caps benefits at about 360 days, which keeps premiums low and, crucially, allows simplified underwriting: many policies ask only a handful of health questions and accept applicants that LTC insurers would decline. The tradeoff is obvious — if you need multiple years of care, a short-term policy runs out. It's a bridge, not a lifetime solution.
We compared insurers on financial strength (their ability to pay claims decades out), underwriting leniency (how easy it is to qualify), benefit flexibility (daily benefit amounts, benefit periods, and whether home care is covered), and price competitiveness. Because short-term care is often bought by people who couldn't get LTC coverage, ease of qualification carried significant weight. This is educational information about insurance categories, not a recommendation of a specific policy — coverage terms and availability vary by state and change over time.
Aetna, backed by CVS Health, offers well-rated short-term care and recovery products with strong financial backing and flexible benefit designs, including home-care options. Its scale and claims-paying strength make it a safe anchor choice. Best for buyers who want a recognized national carrier with solid ratings.
The free Cost of Long-Term Care guide prices out assisted living, memory care, in-home care and nursing homes by state — plus the four ways families pay for it. Educational only, nobody will call you.
Medico is a specialist in short-term and supplemental health products and is known for lenient underwriting — a good fit for applicants with health conditions that would trigger a decline elsewhere. It offers customizable benefit periods and home-care coverage. Best for those in less-than-perfect health who still want protection.
GTL has offered short-term care coverage for years and lets buyers tailor daily benefit amounts and benefit periods, with options for facility and home care. Its established track record in this niche is a plus. Best for buyers who want to fine-tune coverage to a budget.
Standard Life & Casualty focuses on recovery and home-care benefits, which matters because most people prefer to receive care at home. Policies can cover home health aides and adult day care. Best for those whose priority is staying in their own home during recovery.
Cigna's supplemental health lines can pair short-term care-style benefits with other coverage like hospital indemnity, useful for building a layered safety net. Backed by a major national insurer. Best for buyers who want to consolidate supplemental coverage with one carrier.
Bankers Fidelity markets simplified-issue senior health products, including short-term care, aimed squarely at the 60–75 age band. Streamlined applications and predictable pricing make it approachable. Best for younger retirees setting up a first layer of care protection.
Washington National offers supplemental and care-related coverage with a long operating history and reliable service. It rounds out a strong field as a dependable alternative worth quoting. Best for buyers comparison-shopping who want another well-established name in the mix.
| Company | Best For | Notable Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna (CVS Health) | Best overall | Financial strength, home care |
| Medico | Health conditions | Lenient underwriting |
| Guarantee Trust Life | Custom coverage | Flexible benefit design |
| Standard Life & Casualty | Home care | Strong home-care benefits |
| Cigna Supplemental | Bundling | Layered supplemental coverage |
| Bankers Fidelity | Ages 60–75 | Simplified issue |
| Washington National | Alternative | Long track record |
Short-term care insurance makes the most sense for three groups. First, adults in their 60s and 70s who want affordable protection against a temporary care need — recovery after surgery, a fall, or a hospital stay. Second, people who have been declined for traditional LTC insurance because of health issues, since short-term policies underwrite more leniently. Third, those who want to bridge the elimination period on an existing LTC policy or Medicare, which generally doesn't pay for extended custodial care. It's less suitable for anyone who realistically needs multi-year coverage — that's still LTC insurance territory.
Focus on four features. The daily or monthly benefit amount should be high enough to offset real care costs in your area. The benefit period (often 90, 180, or 360 days) determines how long payments last. Confirm that home care and assisted living are covered, not just nursing facilities, since most care happens outside a nursing home. And check the elimination period — the number of days you pay out of pocket before benefits begin; a zero-day elimination period costs more but pays from day one.
For 2026, Aetna is the strongest all-around short-term care insurer, Medico is the go-to for applicants with health issues, and Standard Life & Casualty leads on home care. Short-term care insurance won't replace long-term care coverage, but as an affordable, easy-to-qualify-for bridge it fills a real gap for the 60–75 cohort. Because terms and pricing vary by state and change, compare quotes from at least three carriers and confirm the specifics with a licensed insurance agent before buying.
Assisted living, in-home care, memory care and nursing homes — current costs by state, plus the four ways families pay for it.
Send Me the Cost of Care GuideNo agent, no sales call.
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Assisted living, in-home care, memory care and nursing homes — current costs by state, plus the four ways families pay for it.
