Health Coverage in Texas
Why Health Coverage is Important
Health coverage plays an essential role in ensuring healthy families and healthy communities. As of 2014, 83 percent of Texans (or more than 22 million) have some form of health coverage, while 17 percent (or nearly 5 million) do not have health benefits. People with health coverage are generally healthier individuals who have regular doctors and take advantage of key preventive health care services. Insured individuals are also better insulated from financial hardship and medical debt because their coverage protects them in the event of a serious illness or injury. This combination of greater physical health and financial security generally yields a higher quality of life.
Health Coverage in Texas Resources:
Health Coverage in Texas: Why Health Coverage is Important
A resource guide and overview of health coverage in Texas.
April 2016
Federal law requires most people to have a health insurance plan that meets minimum federal coverage standards or pay a tax penalty. Health benefit plans provided by employers and most state or federal government health plans (Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, TRICARE, and some veterans’ health programs) will usually satisfy the requirement. Health care coverage makes a difference in whether people get necessary medical care, when they get it, where they get their care, and ultimately, how healthy they are in the long-term.
Trends in the Commercial Health Insurance Market: 2014-2015
An issue brief on recent trends in the commercial health insurance market in Texas.
April 2016
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has had a significant impact on enrollment in Texas in the traditional fully-insured commercial insurance market, with a 20 percent increase in the number of individuals covered since implementation of the ACA’s key provisions in January of 2014. Prior to the ACA, 3.73 million individuals were covered in the traditional insurance market in Texas.
The Value of Health Plan Networks
A resource guide and overview of health plan networks and health plan network regulations and requirements.
April 2016
Health plans create provider networks by establishing agreements with a wide range of providers and facilities: doctors, hospitals, labs, radiology facilities, pharmacies and other providers. It is estimated that approximately 90 percent of U.S. providers (hospitals and doctors) participate in health plan networks. These provider networks offer consumers and employers access to affordable, high-quality care.
The Value of Health Plan Networks
Presentation on the commercial health insurance market in Texas, including trends and regulatory requirements.
January 2016
This comprehensive presentation about the value of health plan networks covers the types of health insurance available, consumer trends in the market, consumer protections in place, problems arising from surprise billing, issues surrounding freestanding ERs, and much more.