Getting Health Insurance in Austin, TX

by | May 7, 2014 | Insurance

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Prior to the Affordable Care Act being enacted, it was more difficult for most people in Austin to get health insurance. Insurers were allowed to reject applicants for health reasons. Although most employer group policies and government health insurance programs did not have medical underwriting, those who applied for private health insurance policies often had to pass medical exams in order to get coverage. Those that need health insurance the most could not get coverage. This changed once the Affordable Care Act became law. Health insurers are no longer allowed to refuse applications for health reasons due to the new law. It is now possible to get health insurance in Austin TX without having to worry about medical underwriting.

Since nobody has to worry about medical underwriting anymore, it is a matter of choosing the right coverage. When getting health insurance in Austin TX, there are a number of things to consider. First of all, cost is a very important factor for most consumers. The deductible and the amount of the copayment will determine how much the premiums will be. The lower the deductible, the higher the premium. A lower copayment will result in higher premiums as well. Those who are in good heallth should probably choose higher deductible policies to save money on premiums since they are unlikely to use their coverage except in emergencies. Those who are in poor health should choose lower deductible and lower copayment policies even though they have higher premiums.

It is also important to look at the list of facilities and doctors that are part of the insurance company’s network. Choosing a medical facility or doctor that is outside of the insurance company’s network will probably result in significant medical expenses that are not covered by insurance. For many people, they would rather stay with their current primary care physicians as long as they’re in the insurer’s network. That means checking the insurance company’s doctor list to make sure the primary care physician is on the list. Otherwise, it may be necessary to change doctors when buying a new policy.

To understand more about the options available for medical insurance, consumers should contact a local agent such as Patrick Court of State Farm.

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