Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania are among 19 states where UnitedHealthcare’s Golden Rule Insurance Co. has introduced two new short-term health plans.

Golden Rule’s new Short Term Medical Plus and Short Term Medical Value plans are designed to bridge gaps in health insurance coverage for workers between jobs who find COBRA too costly or who aren’t eligible for COBRA, new graduates looking for work, students dropping off their parents’ plans, new employees not yet covered by employer plans, early retirees awaiting Medicare eligibility and others whose lives are in time of transition, the company said.

“Especially in today’s economy, there is a need for budget-conscious health plans for individuals and families who suddenly find themselves without health insurance through work or school,” Golden Rule CEO Richard A. Collins said in a statement. “Life circumstances can change quickly, and with these new plans, we want to give consumers a choice of plan designs, deductibles, months of coverage and payment options so individuals can decide what will best meet their family’s current situation.”

In Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin, consumers can choose from one to12 months of coverage with either of Golden Rule’s new short term plans; and in Arizona, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia, one to six months of coverage is available.

Consumers can then apply for additional months of coverage and consecutive short term plans, in accordance with state law.

The Short Term Medical Plus offers a per-term deductible between $250 and $10,000 and is ideal for consumers seeking predictable out-of-pocket expenses.

Short Term Medical Value offers a per-cause deductible between $250 and $5,000 and is Golden Rule’s most cost-effective short term coverage.