Types of Texas Health Insurance Plans

Finding Texas health insurance can be a struggle if you don’t know what options are available, and the difference between the various plans available today. Not all health insurance plans are the same, and the cost of Texas health insurance varies with the number of facilities and degree of flexibility being offered. If you are living in Texas and want to know what health insurance options are available, the first step is understanding the various health insurance plans that are available in Texas.

Texas health insurance plans can be broadly classified into 4 categories:

Indemnity Plans

An indemnity plan is the most flexible Texas health insurance option you can choose. An indemnity plan allows you to choose which doctor you want to go to and which hospital you want to use. Indemnity plans are restricted in that they usually have a limit to the number of days you can be admitted to the hospital, you should understand all the limitations of an indemnity plan before you start paying for your health insurance.

Indemnity plans are also the most expensive Texas health insurance plans and an indemnity plan is ideally suited for people that want to use private practitioners and exclusive hospitals. In addition, since the payments are actually reimbursed, you are expected to keep all your bills and paperwork intact.

HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations)

HMOs allow you to join a network of physicians and hospitals. You can then choose which physician will act as your primary health care physician, and which hospital will be your health care centre. Unlike Indemnity plans, you do not have the luxury of choosing which hospital or physician you want to use, and you can only use hospitals and physicians that are a part of the HMOs network.  HMOs are the most restrictive Texas health insurance plans, but also typically provide the most comprehensive benefits.   Medicare and companies like Scott & White offer HMOs health insurance in Texas.

PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations)

A PPO health insurance plan is similar to a HMO plan, but differs in that you can choose physicians outside the predefined network of hospitals and physicians. PPO health insurance plans typically cost less than HMO plans but the benefits are a little more limited and the network is larger and doesn’t require that you stay with one primary care physician.  Remember, you will have to pay an extra fee to use the services of a physician/hospital outside the network. PPOs health insurance plans are extremely popular with residents of Texas, as people do not mind paying extra for a flexible Texas health insurance plan.

POS (Point of Service)

POS plans are a combination of PPOs and HMOs. The health insurance will cover the cost of using physicians and hospitals outside the network, but you have authorization of your physician to do so. POS plans are a little more expensive than PPOs and HMOs and there is an additional clause of being referred over by your physician. POS plans cost more than both PPOs and HMOs, and are ideal for people that do not want to pay an exorbitant amount to use physicians and hospitals outside the network of the Texas health insurance provider.

Texas Health Insurance Online Quotes and Applications
If you are a resident of Texas you can find an excellent resource for your research by visiting Texas Health & Life (Texas Health Insurance) which offers online quotes and applications for Texas health insurance and also a very helpful Buyer’s Guide.