Saturday, December 27, 2008

Texas Health Insurance And Pre-Existing Conditions

By Jordan FeRoss

Having a pre-existing condition can make getting health insurance in Texas very complicated. Unfortunately, some companies will not give you insurance at all if you have a pre-existing condition. Even if you are lucky enough to get the insurance, you will get it at a much higher rate and with a higher deductible because you are considered to be high risk.

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.

You should note that with this health insurance alternative, you can be charged up to two times the normal rate of individual health insurance. One, because there are not a lot of resources like this in the state. Second, because the pool knows that there are not a lot of resources that would easily provide insurance coverage to the uninsurable; they have found a niche here. So, they know that since this group of people doesn't have much of a choice for getting health insurance in Texas elsewhere, that they will have to join the pool.

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.

The federal government has strict eligibility guidelines for the risk pool. One important distinction is that you must have been rejected for insurance through another health insurance company because of a pre-existing condition before you can join the risk pool for your health insurance in Texas. You will need to provide documentation of this when you apply for the pool.

Dependents of people who are covered with health insurance in Texas by Texas Health Pool may also be eligible for this type of insurance coverage. There are also certain types of medical conditions that will automatically qualify you for coverage in the pool. You will need to provide documentation from a health insurance agency that would prove your inability to get coverage through the traditional insurance companies.

A person with a pre-existing condition needs health insurance in Texas more than anyone else and not being able to get it can be frustrating. Fortunately, there is something that can be done. Everyone needs and deserves to have proper health care for a reasonable cost. It is essential that states, like Texas, have programs like the Texas insurance pool in place to allow people with pre-existing conditions to get the quality health care they need and deserve. The implementation of the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool is likely one of the most significant improvements in Texas, at least as far as health insurance for people with serious needs is concerned. - 16492

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