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Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Using Alternate Health Insurance In Texas

By Jordan FeRoss

People who have an employer sponsored health insurance plan in Texas and then lose their jobs do not have to go without health insurance. The bad news is that it will cost you more since your employer will not be covering part of it. Health insurance in Texas for people between jobs is covered by COBRA. COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. This insurance is controlled federal government and must be offered to employees that lose their jobs so that they may have continuous coverage while they look for a new job.

The way it works is you would pay more than you would if you were still an employee of a company. You would continue coverage for you and your family. This kind of health insurance in Texas can help you keep health benefits for you and your family. With COBRA, you are allowed coverage for 18 months and for your spouse and dependents, they are allowed health insurance coverage for twice as long. This alternate health plan is basically used when an employee is not longer employed.

COBRA rules dictate that any individual to leave a company employing more than 20 people is eligible for continued health insurance. While there may be disqualifying factors such as the individual receiving disability or Medicare benefits, spouses and dependent children may still be eligible for health insurance in Texas under COBRA. If you choose COBRA coverage, you need to notify your employer within 60 days of your last day of coverage under your group plan or you will become ineligible and will be uninsured. Anyone who chooses to extend their health insurance coverage is responsible for their full premium and any administrative fees.

Continuing your HMO health insurance coverage is an option when you choose COBRA after terminating your employment. You must check your policy and be sure to use only the doctors in your network or you may only get emergency treatment covered.

To help ensure those who lose their jobs do not join the ranks of the uninsured, Texas has a mandated continuance period for health insurance after COBRA coverage ends during which coverage will continue. For those who qualify, the continuance period of six months can mean someone will have health insurance in Texas for up to two years after they leave a job.

According to Texas law most health insurance carriers must allow for a group continuance period for people who no longer qualify for the other plan. This applies to people who should have been covered under the group plan. When using this health insurance in Texas, the group insurance coverage continues as long as payment is made on time.

There is another alternative health insurance in Texas. The state uses what is called the Health Pool. For those who can't get health insurance coverage because of a pre-existing condition or related chronic illness, they can use this health coverage. They have coverage for major medical procedure. The amount you pay depends on several factors: age, gender and where you live. Depending on these factors, the insurance carrier will tell you how much you would be paying. So whatever your situation in regard to getting alternative health insurance is, you should be able to find something that you can get.

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