Saturday, December 27, 2008

Texas Health Insurance And Pre-Existing Conditions

By Jordan FeRoss

As anyone with a pre-existing condition knows, it can be very difficult to get health insurance in Texas. For some, health insurance may be completely out of reach as many insurers reject people with pre-existing conditions completely. If you do find insurance, you will likely pay higher premiums and deductibles for your care because you are considered far riskier than someone without any pre-existing condition.

There is something you can do to get health insurance in Texas. There is a group called the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool, otherwise known as the Texas Health Pool, which can provide health insurance in Texas. This Health Pool is mainly for those who are having a difficult time securing health insurance. This pool also insures those that have a pre-existing condition.

The biggest problem with choosing the risk pool for your health insurance in Texas is the cost. Costs twice as much as regular premiums for a few reasons. First, there are very limited resources for this type of insurance, which drives up the cost. Second is that people who opt for the risk pool have no other choices and it is a bit of a monopoly. But, for someone who cannot get insurance through any other method, the risk pool can provide the protection someone with a pre-existing condition needs and their options are limited.

The Texas Health pool insurance coverage is used for inpatient hospital admissions, doctor visits and prescription drugs. In addition to that, this health insurance in Texas will pay for mental illness situations (serious ones); However, one exclusion of this state coverage is the pool will not provide coverage for chemical dependency issues.

There are guidelines issued by the federal government that dictate who is eligible for this type health insurance coverage in Texas. Another requirement is that your application for health insurance with another insurance company must have been denied due to your pre-existing condition and you will have to produce documentation to prove this when you apply.

Children of those covered by the risk pool may also be eligible. Certain medical conditions make eligibility for the risk pool automatic because they are known to be difficult or impossible to insure through traditional means. You will need to prove your ineligibility from another insurance carrier before joining the risk pool.

It's important that even though your pre-existing condition may prevent you from getting health insurance in Texas, that there is a way around that. Everyone needs health insurance, if for nothing else than going to the doctor. Not begin able to go to the doctor because of no insurance can be frustrating, to say the least. It's important that the state of Texas has this program designed so that those with pre-existing conditions can be able to get quality care just like those that have the traditional health insurance. The health pool was probably one of the best things that could have happened for the state of Texas as far as health insurance is concerned. - 16459

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