Justin Stoltzfus

A new short-term insurance plan in Minnesota is testing ways to go paper-free for the Internet generation. Known as Link90, the program is being offered by Minnesota insurer HealthPartners. The plan targets younger people who are in school or between jobs -- as well as all customers who are between insurance plans.

Link90 provides 90 days of short-term health insurance, according to the plan's website, and has some appealing features. First of all, it's paperless. Rather than getting bulky network booklets and "explanation of benefits" documents by  mail, members get electronic updates, which they can access with their computers, smartphones or other devices.

Members also get three free visits (one for each month of coverage) to virtuwell, HealthPartners' online clinic. The clinic is available 24 hours a day, and it lets members get diagnosed and treated by a nurse practitioner (using medical interviews and, sometimes, pictures) for seasonal viruses or other not-so-serious conditions like colds, sinus infections and pinkeye. Also, Link90 members can obtain discounts on everything from gyms to outdoor sports equipment.

With average premiums of less than $100 and some high-deductible options with premiums as low as $35, the rates for Link90 are relatively affordable. The highest in-network deductible option is $2,000. But there's also the option of paying a higher premium for a $500 deductible, so patients who go through approved doctors can start getting claims paid sooner. The plan includes a lifetime maximum of $1 million.

There are, however, some things that Minnesota health insurance customers should watch out for. Exclusions for Link90 include childbirth, mental health treatment and transplants, as well as that typical stumbling block: pre-existing conditions. Those with recurring health conditions likely won't be covered for them. And the timeframe indicates that Link90 is definitely not meant to be a long-term health insurance solution.

For healthy people in several eligible Minnesota counties and ZIP codes, Link90 can be an easy and affordable way to get covered between jobs or for a short time without signing up for much higher COBRA rates or trying to join a high-risk insurance pool. And the plan does show how some insurers are getting serious about meeting the needs of various demographics leading up to the 2014 federal insurance mandate. Yet, like any other short-term health insurance plan, Link90 has its exclusions and pitfalls -- and does not fit the needs of those with serious medical conditions.