Thursday, January 1, 2009

Your Texas Health Insurance Should Meet Your Needs

By Jordan FeRoss

As with any insurance-buying decisions, the most educated choices are those made after an individual researches the options they have regarding coverage and price and considers how each plan will meet his or her needs. Health insurance in Texas is no exception. One of the most common (and costly) mistakes people make when evaluating plans is jumping at the least expensive plan. This can lead to serious hardship down the road when a high deductible leaves with considerable out-of-pocket expenses or you find that none of the medical services you received were covered by your insurer. Generally, the more comprehensive the plan the higher the premium.

Remember that the insurance plan you choose may require participation for a certain period, so you'll want to be very deliberate in your decision making. Take all the time you need to fully understand all the plans offered and what they cover (and don't cover) so there are no surprises later when you start receiving bills. Make sure the plan you choose is affordable to you but allows some flexibility, particularly if you have a family with varying health considerations. By arming yourself with more information at the beginning of your search, you will find yourself less concerned with healthcare costs and more concerned with your health.

You should be able to obtain a comprehensive written explanation of your health insurance options and exactly how much each one costs, what they cover, what your co-pays are for office visits and prescription medications, as well as any deductible you might have. Most health insurance plans in Texas provide all of this information to your employer if you are getting an employer sponsored plan or to your insurance agent if you are buying from one and online plans will provide the information on their website.

As you review policies, think about what could happen while you are covered by your health insurance in Texas. This includes checking on what costs you will incur for out-of-network doctors and hospitals. If your doctor is not in the network, are you willing to make a change? What if you leave the coverage area of your insurer and become sick or injured. Will you require authorization before you are admitted? Are these costs considered out-of-network or can exceptions be made? You will find all of these questions answered in the policy's terms and getting them answered is an important part of the process.

Geography is also a consideration as you research health insurance in Texas. If there are no participating doctors or hospitals near where you live or work, it can make it difficult to make appointments and mean more costly ambulance rides if there is serious injury or illness and a few seconds in travel time can make all the difference when it comes to receiving timely treatment. Know where your providers are and the location of the hospital near you to compare them with the in-network facilities of the insurer you're considering. This may affect your decision.

Never accept anyone's word for anything when choosing health insurance in Texas. As with any contract, you'll want everything in writing and be sure the policy is signed by both you and the insurer so that it is considered legally binding in case of any problems later. Assume nothing, particularly when it comes to things like referrals and whether they are required for coverage..

While no one anticipates problems with their health insurance in Texas, there are procedures in place for filing complaints and grievances against your insurer if you are unhappy. If you don't know what this process entails, it can make it difficult for you to recoup losses for treatment that should be covered or doctors you were told were in-network but were not. While it is important to have health insurance in Texas, it's more important to wait until you are fully informed and can choose the best, and most affordable, coverage for yourself and your family.

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment