Live Insurance News

Texas health insurance providers are discontinuing certain policies

October 9, 2015October 7, 2015 Julie Campbell

Many Texans have been receiving letters informing them that their coverage won’t be available next year. All across the state, Texas health insurance customers have been receiving the letters that they don’t want to receive, which have been telling them that their insurers won’t be continuing their policies and that they will need to start shopping for new coverage for next year. The letters have informed them that even though they have made their payments on time, their health plans are canceled. These Texas health insurance policies have been discontinued,…

Employer-sponsored health insurance is on the rise in Texas

October 9, 2015October 7, 2015 S.Vagus

Study shows that more workers in Texas are gaining health insurance coverage from their employers A new study from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Episcopal Health Foundation has found that more people in Texas have employer-sponsored health insurance coverage. Many had been concerned that they would lose their sponsored covered due to some of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act. This has not been the case, however, as employers have opted to continue providing health insurance coverage for their workers. 68% of workers now receive…

Texas has the largest population of those without health insurance coverage

September 23, 2015September 22, 2015 Marc

Texas leads in terms of uninsured population, eclipsing California Texas now has the highest uninsured population of any state in the United States. Last year, the state had more than 5 million residents that did not have health insurance coverage, overshadowing even California in terms of its uninsured population. For many years, California was home to the largest uninsured population, with some 4.8 million people without coverage. Over the past few years, however, the state has managed to reduce its uninsured population by a significant margin. California has reduced the…

Health insurance company to put its individual PPO plans to rest

August 5, 2015August 5, 2015 Marc

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas will begin phasing out its PPO coverage Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas has announced that it will be phasing out its PPO coverage for individuals. The health insurance providers is doing so because it believes that offering this coverage is no longer financial sustainable. Those with PPO coverage from the insurer will have to switch to HMO plans as a result. Notably, the company’s PPO plans will continue to be offered to employers and group PPO plans will still be available. Cost of…

Health insurance gap remains large in Texas Hispanic population

August 3, 2015July 31, 2015 G. Turner

A new study has shown that this ethnic community still finds costs to be prohibitively high. According to the outcome of the research conducted by a team at the Baker Institute from Rice University, the health insurance gap among the middle aged, lower income, and Hispanic populations. Affordability was cited among the top reasons that many people in those communities remained uninsured. The research team from the Baker Institute worked along with the Episcopal Health Foundation in order to prepare a number of briefs that would provide a better understanding…

New health insurance legislation passed in Texas

June 3, 2015June 1, 2015 Marc

Health insurance cards for policies sold through state exchange will have a QHP label New legislation in Texas will place a special label on all health insurance cards for those that have purchased plans through the state’s exchange. This label — QHP — will be affixed to insurance cards to denote that policyholders have purchased coverage through the state’s exchange. The label stands for “qualified health plans,” which are policies that are approved to be sold through the health insurance exchange marketplace. This may serve as a “teachable” moment for…

People seek out health insurance on the last day of open enrollment

February 19, 2015February 18, 2015 Nordstrom

Open enrollment has ended, but many sought coverage at the last minute There has been a swell in activity among those looking for health insurance coverage through state-based exchanges on the last day of the open enrollment period. Open enrollment for exchanges ended on February 15, and many people flocked to HealthCare.gov and visited the physical office of their exchanges in order to acquire coverage. With the open enrollment period now over, consumers will not be able to find health insurance coverage through exchanges, apart from certain circumstances. Texas experiences…