Safetalks Business Blog

The Texas Hospital Association (THA) is urging lawmakers in Dallas, Houston and throughout the rest of the state to take the right steps to make health insurance more affordable and accessible to individuals in Texas. The state ranks first in the country in the percentage of uninsured residents (24. 6%).
‘Cover the Uninsured Week,’ which is observed nationally to highlight the importance of access to affordable health care benefits, has garnered particular attention in Texas where Gov. Rick Perry has localized the awareness effort by proclaiming April 23-29, 2007 as Cover the Uninsured Week in the Lone Star State.
“Everyone pays the price when individuals, families and small businesses cannot afford health insurance,” the Governor stated. “The increasing costs of uncompensated care place a strain on Texas hospitals, other health care providers and on the quality of care every patient receives. Texas recognizes the urgency to take meaningful steps to make health insurance more affordable and accessible. “
Nearly one quarter of Texas residents — approximately 5. 5 million men, women and children — is uninsured. In addition, the uninsured rate in every major Texas city is higher than the national average, and Texas’ share of uninsured children, more than 25 percent, also is higher than the national average. In 2005, eight in 10 non-elderly uninsured Texans came from working families — nearly 70 percent from families with one or more full-time workers.
“Texas hospitals are working with our elected officials in the battle to provide health care coverage to more Texans through the private sector as well as state-funded programs such as Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program,” according to THA President/CEO Dan Stultz, M. D. , FACP, FACHE. Stultz said, “We know that access to affordable health insurance affects all Texans — because we all pay the price when Texans don’t get the care they need. “
In addition to working to reverse cuts in Medicaid and CHIP funding, and restoring provider reimbursement rates, the THA supports a number of private-sector measures to increase the number of Texans with health insurance coverage. These measures include:
H. B. 882 by Rep. Elliott Naishtat/Rep. John Davis (S. B. 922 by Sen. Kirk Watson) — These measures authorize counties to establish or participate in regional health care programs, which would provide health care services or benefits to the employees of small employers located in the participating counties.
H. B. 1182 by Rep. John Davis — Requires that state agencies and school districts consider whether a vendor provides health care benefits or equivalent health savings benefits to its employees when awarding a contract for goods or services.
S. B. 1023 by Sen. Royce West — Limits the use of money in the Texas Enterprise Fund to recipients that provide health benefit plans.
H. B. 3321 by Rep. Vicki Truitt — Requires students to be enrolled in a health benefit plan and to submit proof of health insurance before enrollment at a public institution of higher education.
H. B. 3361 by Rep. Garnet Coleman (S. B. 1681 by Sen. Kip Averitt) — Requires that health care benefit plans allow unmarried children of any age to be covered under a parent’s or grandparent’s health insurance policy or plan if the cost of the premium is paid.
When uninsured Texans are sick, they currently often turn to hospital emergency rooms because they have no primary care physician. Stultz noted that nearly 20 percent of people who lack health insurance report turning to the ER for what is often routine care, compared to only three percent of those with insurance coverage, according to the National Coalition on Health Care.
“Using hospital emergency rooms for non-critical care takes precious time and scarce resources that doctors, nurses and other health care professionals could put to work for those patients who truly need life-saving care or intervention for serious medical conditions. ” Adding that Texas hospitals spent more than $10. 1 billion in 2005 to care for patients who have no health insurance, Stultz said, “The costs of uncompensated care strains our physicians’ and hospitals’ ability to provide quality care to all patients — regardless of their insurance status. It also places undue burdens on local taxpayers, workers and health care consumers. “
Health care experts say that increasing the number of people with health insurance will further enhance the quality of care and help reduce the losses that result from doctors and hospitals treating patients with no health insurance. Uncompensated care limits the financial resources available to invest in new technology, electronic communication, education and other enhancements that would improve patient care and outcomes for all patients.

The purchase of health coverage is very important for individuals – to cover not only their health but also their medical bills. Even minor illnesses can lead to exorbitant medical expenses not to speak of serious disease in which the costs cannot be described as shocking. To keep the wolf from the door and provide protection to you and your family, you may consider buying the coverage of individual health plans. To do this, you must have a basic idea of health coverage works in the state of Texas. According to the plan you choose, you will find they pay for all or part of your medical expenses resulting from injuries or illness. The plans are divided into two broad categories: the plans of health care and costs of health service plans. Managed care plans through a network of doctors. This means that the plan pays only if you consult a doctor or hospital which is included in the plan network. Yet there are plans that allow you to visit a doctor of your choice, but they offer greater financial incentive if you visit a service provider or hospital in their network. The need to buy individual health insurance can never be stressed. The need is even more striking if you had to consult a doctor, even for a minor illness, and introduced a bill that we can afford to pay. Once you’ve made up your mind that you must purchase health coverage at all costs for you and your family, it becomes imperative for you to do a thorough analysis of the choices available on the market. While all plans have their advantages and disadvantages, and it is never an ideal choice, but you can always make an informed choice. Before buying health coverage, you need to know the plans for basic health care. These can be broadly classified as management plans, health care and tax service plans. Management plans of health care more affordable as the cost of service for health plans, but the catch is that the costs of medical expenses will be covered only if you consult a doctor or hospital in the network plan. Fee for service plans, also known as indemnity plans are more expensive, but then you have the freedom to choose your service provider. Before deciding on the plan that best suits your needs, you can order online quote. Surf the net and you will find many sites to advertise their prices and prices of different health plans. Not only do companies provide details on the plans and prices, but also guide you on the most realistic option for you. You can order brochures from these companies, and then make a comparative study of the diseases they cover, deductibles, premiums, co-payments, coinsurance, and other factors such as preventive care coverage for as prescription drugs. Also, you must remember to go through the website of the Department of Health or if you have time, a personal visit would be preferable. You can consult with staff to get a better idea of good business reputation and also advice on what plan to choose.