Health Spas Guide

Texas health insurance options are pretty good if you need to get individual or family health insurance because you are self-employed or it’s not available any other way. There are different types of plans, and costs and coverages can vary quite a bit. Here’s how you can find health insurance coverage.

Like in most states, you can get health insurance in Texas that basically falls into two categories: Fee-for-service and managed care.

Fee-for-service: With this type of health insurance policy, you can see any doctor or provider you want and typically go to a specialist without a referral. The provider may bill the insurance company, or you will need to submit a claim form to the health insurance company to reimburse you for the expenses that they cover. The insurance company may cover from 80 to 100 percent of the expenses. You will pay a premium, a deductible, probably a coinsurance amount and will have a maximum yearly limit to your coverage. Texas law requires health insurance companies to pay claims promptly.

Managed care: A managed care plan uses doctors, hospitals, and other providers that are associated in a network. You would become a member of an HMO, PPO or POS network and usually have to use the providers in the group to receive benefits. This put some limitations on who you can visit for health care, but these plans usually provide an affordable health insurance alternative to fee-for-service. Also, Texas law is very comprehensive about protecting your rights when you join a network.

You should get several quotes when shopping for health insurance — at least three. In Texas, one of the easiest ways to get multiple quotes is to go online to an insurance comparison site. These sites allow you to enter your information into a “quote box” or form, and then they’ll provide you with multiple quotes from different companies or agents. Since coverages and plans all differ, make sure to see if the plan you like is giving you the service and coverages that you and your family needs.

By: Scott Lunt