Texas Medical Insurance - A Brief Overview
Texas medical insurance is available privately through individual insurers as well as public programs for those who qualify. The United States boasts some of the finest health care available throughout the world but also spends more per capita than any other country. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development which tracks economic policies and trends of 30 countries, the average health care cost per American in 2007 was $6,714, a full 50% more than Switzerland ($4,311) and an unimaginable 80% of that of Canada ($3,678). Medical insurance provides a safety net from having to pay those costs completely out of pocket.
One of every four working adults in Texas is not insured, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Less than half of all residents get employer-based health care, and only 35% of Texas-based small businesses are able to offer health insurance to their employees. Texas medical insurance is available to all residents through cost-effective individual policies from private insurers as well as innovative state and federally funded programs for low-income Texas residents, including the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Texas Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program, as well as Medicaid and benefits for workers displaced by trade issues and those in certain trades.
In Texas medical insurance from private insurers is based on the status of the policy holder's overall health. While a person applying for a policy may be turned down for the presence of illness or other conditions, he cannot be denied coverage because of information from testing which could reveal genetic predispositions toward them. Newborns and newly adopted children are automatically covered under a parent's policy for 31 days. Grandparents are able to add legally dependent grandchildren under the age of 20 to their policies. Disabled adult children can remain on a legal guardian's policy with proof that he or she cannot sustain employment due to disability.
Texas medical insurance laws do not mandate the total coverage private health insurers must provide, but they do stipulate what must be offered to consumers. At least one policy must be offered that covers childhood immunizations, mammograms and other state-mandated benefits. Companies that sell individual health insurance plans are allowed to offer lower-cost "cafeteria style" Consumer Choice Benefits Plans that do not include all of the mandated benefits. By law no pre-existing condition riders are allowed at Texas HMOs, whereas insurers can limit coverage on certain illnesses or conditions for up to 24 months if it was treated in the past five years.
One of every four working adults in Texas is not insured, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Less than half of all residents get employer-based health care, and only 35% of Texas-based small businesses are able to offer health insurance to their employees. Texas medical insurance is available to all residents through cost-effective individual policies from private insurers as well as innovative state and federally funded programs for low-income Texas residents, including the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Texas Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program, as well as Medicaid and benefits for workers displaced by trade issues and those in certain trades.
In Texas medical insurance from private insurers is based on the status of the policy holder's overall health. While a person applying for a policy may be turned down for the presence of illness or other conditions, he cannot be denied coverage because of information from testing which could reveal genetic predispositions toward them. Newborns and newly adopted children are automatically covered under a parent's policy for 31 days. Grandparents are able to add legally dependent grandchildren under the age of 20 to their policies. Disabled adult children can remain on a legal guardian's policy with proof that he or she cannot sustain employment due to disability.
Texas medical insurance laws do not mandate the total coverage private health insurers must provide, but they do stipulate what must be offered to consumers. At least one policy must be offered that covers childhood immunizations, mammograms and other state-mandated benefits. Companies that sell individual health insurance plans are allowed to offer lower-cost "cafeteria style" Consumer Choice Benefits Plans that do not include all of the mandated benefits. By law no pre-existing condition riders are allowed at Texas HMOs, whereas insurers can limit coverage on certain illnesses or conditions for up to 24 months if it was treated in the past five years.
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