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Healthcare costs in Texas have
risen in the past few years, so it makes sense that Texas has one of the highest rates of uninsured people in the country, with almost 20% of people under 65 lacking
healthcare. The numbers go up if you never finished high school—almost half of
non-high school graduates don’t have insurance.
These are scary numbers.
Having healthcare is important not only because it can protect you from
exorbitant doctor’s bills in case of a catastrophic health issue, but also
because those who are uninsured must pay an extra tax.
Here’s what you need to know to find the best, affordable health insurance in Texas if you don’t want to be one of those 20%.
Cheap health care in Texas
What Texas Healthcare Looks Like Right Now
Presently, Texas has 8 healthcare providers in the state. This is the same amount as 2018, but one provider, Sendero, is leaving the state while Oscar Health is entering it.
If you live in a city like Houston or Texas, you probably have a lot of options for both carriers and plans, including Ambetter, Christus, Molina, and Bright Health. Outside one of these bustling urban centers, Blue Cross Blue Shield is the most popular choice for consumers but other providers are planning to expand into these areas.
What does this expansion (and greater competition between providers) mean for consumers? It’s good news! TrueCoverage’s Enrollment Call Center Manager, Kenneth Goldfuss, commented that “We always saw a decent bit of options in the urban areas, such as Houston and Texas, but it was the rural areas where for a long time you only saw one carrier—Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. Don’t get me wrong—they are a fantastic carrier. But there weren’t any other choices! You are now beginning to see that change some, and more choices for the consumer is always a good thing.”
Talk to Kenneth Goldfuss to know more.
Besides more competitive pricing, another bonus of increasing competition in the market of health insurance in Texas is that it has the potential to improve subsidies offered by more affordable carriers. That means if you qualify for an Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidy, you could save even more money than usual.
How Much Does Health
Insurance Cost in Texas?
Texas has quite a few health
insurance providers, including Ambetter, Christus, Molina, Bright Health,
Oscar, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United, Aetna, and Humana. This competition can
drive down prices.
But despite this, health insurance still isn’t cheap. The average Texan pays $444 a month for health insurance without subsidies. If you do qualify for an ACA subsidy, you probably pay an average of $207 a month in premiums.
How much you pay for health
insurance in Texas can depend on a lot of different factors, including:
- The level of coverage: In the ACA marketplace, there are four levels of coverage offered—bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. The benefits are generally the same, but the lower tiers offer low premiums because they require higher out-of-pocket payments. Find out the right coverage offered.
- Whether you qualify for a subsidy: The Affordable Care Act stipulates that, depending on your income and family size, you may qualify for subsidies that lower your healthcare premiums and co-pays.
- Where you live in Texas: The price of your healthcare may change based on where you live in Texas and what providers serve your area.
- Your age: No matter what age you are, you can enroll in healthcare through ACA. However, in many places, the older you are, the more you pay in premiums.
- Whether you smoke: The ACA allows insurance providers to charge tobacco-users a higher premium—up to 50% more!
If you’re curious how much health insurance would cost you, try out this calculator for an estimate.
The Best Way To Find a
Great, Affordable Health Insurance Carrier in TX
The health insurance market in
Texas can be overwhelming. Plus, federal grants to educate consumers about
finding the right option for them have been slashed in the past year. That
means it can be harder than ever to find affordable, high-quality healthcare in
Texas this year.
With TrueCoverage, you don’t
have to worry about that. We work to make the Texas healthcare market easy to
understand and access. We put all Texas health insurance providers in the same
place to help you compare your options and find the right option for you and
your family.
If you need help calculating your subsidy and choosing the perfect healthcare provider for you, give us a call. Our talented agents work within your budget to find the right carrier; we can even help you find better discounts! Call or email today!
Picture credit: Whitney Gibbens from Pixabay
