Is it possible to find a good rate on individual health insurance in Texas? Yes, if you’re willing to spend a little time shopping rates. Here’s how to get the best rate on individual health insurance in Texas.
The Bad News
Millions of Americans don’t have health insurance, including 5.4 million Texans, or about 25{5b0579ddad123e8826b0f99aaf2548fba6b6d6310808b95d99d67897c25a7935} of the state’s population. Texas leads the nation in the number of people under age 65 who do not have health insurance.
Your Options
Part of the reason so many Texans lack health insurance is that Texas has many small businesses that are not required to offer this benefit. Consequently, only 48{5b0579ddad123e8826b0f99aaf2548fba6b6d6310808b95d99d67897c25a7935} of Texans receive health insurance through their employer.
Government assistance is available for low-income families, including a Children’s Health Insurance Program for children whose families earn too much for Medicaid but who still can’t afford private health insurance.
Another option is to purchase an individual health insurance policy. Such a policy will cost more than government sponsored health insurance, so you want to make sure you get the best rate possible.
To keep your rate down …
* Look into an HMO (health maintenance organization) or PPO (preferred provider organization). These plans limit your choices when it comes to selecting a doctor, but they lower your costs substantially.
* Choose a policy with a high deductible or co-payments.
* Choose a policy that offers only the coverage you need. If you’re in good health, you can choose a policy that offers just major medical coverage (hospital and surgical coverage only), rather than comprehensive coverage which covers doctor visits, and prescription drug costs.
Shop Around for the Best Rate
You can save on your policy by shopping rates at an insurance comparison website. You complete one simple questionnaire with information about yourself and your insurance needs. Then you’ll receive quotes from multiple A-rated companies that you can compare.
The best of these sites even have a chat feature where you can get answers to your insurance questions, plus get advice on how to lower your premium, from a professional (see link below).
