Wednesday, January 28, 2009

How To Find Out If Your Texas Health Insurance Meets 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.

Whatever you choose, find out what is available before you make a final decision on the health insurance coverage that you will get. Here are some of the things that you should know about in regard to your health insurance in Texas: The coverage should include medical services that will benefit you and your dependents.

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.

You also want to check into the "what ifs". You need to know what will happen if you use a doctor that is not in the plan's network. Will you be able to visit them? Will you have to pay more? These are things that should be listed in the information you receive and if not, you need to ask for it. What about emergency situations? If you are on vacation and get injured will you be able to get care at the local ER or will you have to pay for it yourself? You want to know all the details before you decide on the right plan of health insurance in Texas for you.

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.

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