2 New Health Plan Options For Dallas Texas

Over the past several years, the health insurance market in Dallas has been on a rollercoaster ride of changes.  Health plan premiums have continued to ride the roller-coater track in an upward direction while benefits have been roaring downhill.  Participating physician and hospital networks have continued to shrink.  Service waits have gotten longer.  People are forced to set doctor appointments that are months out.   There comes a point where service delayed is service denied.  The current projectory of health care and health insurance is untenable.

Fortunately there are 2 new health plan options available to Texas that are bucking the trend.  Both of these health plan options are not governed by the Affordable Care Act.

The New Short-Term Health Insurance Plans.

Recent rule changes enacted by the Trump administration have made short-term health insurance plans an increasingly realistic option for those seeking an escape from the sky-high Affordable Care Act (ACA) premiums.  One significant change was the catylst for the creation of a new kind of health insurance plan.  The Trump administration repealed Obama-era measures that placed limits on short-term health insurance availability.  Due to this change, short-term health insurance is not so "short" anymore.  In Dallas,Texas, it is now possible to purchase a short-term health insurance plan with the option to renew ongoing coverage for up to three years.  In addition, there are new short-term plans that feature benefits that are markedly superior to the short-term policies of just a year ago.  While benefits and protections still not on par with an ACA approved health insurance plan, these new short-term plan benefits are getting closer.  They are now considered a viable option for providing health coverage for an individual or family for the long term.

Consumers appear to have taken notice.  According to research, the number of businesses that plan on offering short-term health insurance plans in 2019 nearly doubled after changes to existing law by the Trump administration took effect.

Healthcare Sharing Plans

Healthcare sharing plans (also known as faith-based health plans), are one of the fastest-growing healthcare options in the nation.  Even so, there is a fair chance that you have never heard of them.

Healthcare sharing plans can provide applicants with effective and affordable health coverage.  These plans operate within a framework that is similar to insurance.  However, from a legal standpoint, a healthcare sharing plan is not insurance.  This distinction affords such plans the ability to function in ways that a traditional insurance plan cannot.  Because Healthcare sharing plans operate within different guidelines than traditional health insurance, what is covered, as well as what manner it is covered, can be quite different.  In many cases, this flexibility can lead to a lower premium amount when compared to a traditional insurance plan featuring similar benefits.  Applicants who meet a healthcare sharing entity's requirements, join a network of other individuals who all pay a monthly fee into the plan.  These funds are distributed to members with medical needs according to the guidelines set out in the plan.  So, a health plan that is not legally insurance, actually behaves very much similar to typical health insurance.  Healthcare sharing entities are less constrained by the bloated administrative costs and inherent industry obligations that traditional health insurance policies are straddled with.  This often translates into a lower premium for a healthcare sharing plan when compared to health insurance plan featuring similar benefits.



Healthcare sharing plans may not be a perfect solution for everyone.  Healthcare sharing plans usually lack several benefits that are required to be covered by Affordable Care Act health insurance plans.  Make certain you understand exactly how your plan works, and what exactly is covered, before you join a Healthcare sharing network. 

Other articles:
Is Short-Term Health Insurance Right For You?
3 Steps To Finding Health Insurance in Dallas, Texas
Finding Short-Term Health Insurance.
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