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Friday, March 20, 2009

What About Texas Health Insurance For The Disabled

By Jordan FeRoss

Sometimes residents of Texas who have physical or mental challenges find it difficult to find health insurance. And sometimes even those that do get health insurance in Texas aren't getting the coverage they really need. Some of the problems that disabled people face include outrageous insurance premiums, unreasonable policy cancellations, claims are unjustly or improperly denied. It may often be more difficult for the people who are already dealing with challenges to take this unfair treatment on top of everything else they are dealing with.

Though the disabled are a protected class under the law and there is considerable legislative support of them, insurance companies still win when it comes to their healthcare (or lack thereof). While it is true that everyone has the right to health insurance in Texas, the disabled get shut out because of the cost of their care, which can be considerable. This does not negate the fact both the obligation and responsibility of insurance companies to treat the disabled as they are entitled and no less. When they are treated as second-class citizens the disabled must fight back and take action when they feel they are being treated unfairly by their insurance companies.

To be considered "disabled" under the law does not necessarily mean having zero functioning, for example a "legally blind" person may still have some sight, or a physically disabled person may be able to walk with the use of a walker. Being disabled generally means having an impaired ability to see, hear, walk or reason, as a few examples. Sadly, it is far too common for people who already face additional challenges in life because of their disability to also have to deal with discrimination, but when it comes to health insurance in Texas, a disabled person doesn't have to take it.

Sometimes a person with a disability will be labeled by the insurance company as having a "pre-existing medical condition" and may have to pay a higher premium for health insurance in Texas. Some people, however, feel that this is unjust and some have been successful in fighting this in court. Other insurance companies put limitations on what they will and will not cover for the disabled person and they may need to fight for their rights.

Some disabilities don't seem to pose any kind of problem when it comes to getting health insurance in Texas. Vision or hearing loss issues don't always raise the same red flags with the insurance companies that certain other disabilities do.

In regard to health insurance in Texas, it is against state law to deny, limit or blatantly refuse to renew a health insurance policy due to the person's limited abilities. The exception to this is if the insurance company feels that the risk of underwriting the person may cause them to lose money. The disabled can also ask the company why you were turned down for an insurance policy.

To help combat the discrimination against people with disabilities, the federal government enacted the Americans with Disabilities Act. ADA regulations provide specific safeguards to prevent people with disabilities from experiencing discrimination in the areas of employment, health insurance and accessibility. Even with these guidelines and other progress made in the past ten years, the disabled are still not getting the equal treatment they deserve. Disabled people, like many other minority groups, must continue to fight for their rights regarding health insurance in Texas even as the laws change to help them further.

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