Are all Texas Health Insurance Plans Providing Preventive Care Benefits?
Posted on February 14, 2012 by Charles F Peeler Jr
A couple of years ago in March of 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – the federal health care reform law. InTexas, if you have health insurance, you and your family may be eligible to receive some pretty important preventive care benefits- at no cost to you.
The Act requires all Texasinsurance companies to provide additional benefits to most policy holders, regardless if the deductible has been met. Part of the new law requires that these “preventive services” are covered 100%, making it easier and more convenient for you to receive the care you need regardless of whether or not you’ve met your deductible.
What This Means For You
If you have a Texas health insurance plan beginning on or afterSeptember 23, 2010, your policy must cover certain preventive services without you having to pay coinsurance, a copay or meeting a deductible. For adults, this includes a variety of screenings like Type 2 Diabetes or cancer screenings, Blood Pressure and cholesterol tests, counseling on losing weight or quitting smoking and various immunizations -meaning you won’t have to pay for a flu shot.
In addition, there are more specific services available for women including various female cancer screenings for things like cervical cancer, mammography, osteoporosis testing, gestational diabetes etc. Children can receive well checks until age 21, autism screenings, behavioral assessments, various other screenings, immunizations and even iron supplements.
Some Exceptions
As with everything, there are some exceptions that you should be aware of. The preventive services provision in the health care bill applies only to folks who have individual health insurance or group health insurance created afterMarch 23, 2010with a new policy year starting afterSeptember 23, 2010. Unfortunately, if your plan is “grandfathered” then you may not receive these benefits.
Additionally, if your plan uses a network, be aware that preventive services are only required to be made available through an in-network provider. Take this into consideration when choosing your insurance company and be sure to look for a company that offers you enough choices. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, for instance, has the largest network in the state ofTexas. With BCBS of Texas, you can rest assured that you will find the in-network doctor you need to provide your preventive services.
While the price of medical care continues to increase, for most of us, there is some relief with the preventive services provision in the health care reform law. As long as you have Texas health insurance that began after 2010, you must be offered these services for free without a co-pay, coinsurance or having met your deductible. Check with your provider to make certain you are receiving the benefits you deserve. If you don’t have insurance yet, consider Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas for giving you the best selection of in-network providers.
For additional information about how the new preventive care benefit can benefit you and your family or to obtain a Texas Health Insurance quote visit our easy to use website.
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