Individual health insurance policies in Texas

Individual health insurance policies in Texas significantly differ from group plans in the way that the individual policies can be tailor made to suit the specific health care needs and the budget of the subscribers. In Texas, individuals can choose from a wide range of health insurance policies. Comprehensive policies or major medical coverage policies generally cover most commonly required kinds of medical services. Some of the most common types of benefits include inpatient hospital care, outpatient surgical services, visits to doctors and physicians, diagnostic procedures, x-Ray and imaging services, physical therapies and drug prescriptions.

Hospital indemnity policies are featured to pay a fixed amount on per service or per day service basis. The cap of the benefit depends on the plan benefit.

There are disease-specific policies that offer a particular cash payment should a covered disease be diagnosed in the subscriber. These kinds of policies can be either stand-alone policies or may also come as a sort of rider to a major type of medical policy. Some of the most common diseases covered under this type include cancer, heart attack, or organ transplants.

Accident coverage insurance is meant only for accidents and the benefits will never be paid for any other kinds of diseases. There is a maximum benefit limit up to which the policy can pay the subscriber in the event of an accident. However, such plans do not limit the number of accidents that can be covered in a year. Also, the subscriber is entitled to get the benefits irrespective of other health insurance that may cover the individual.

Short-term Texas health insurance - policies are valid over a given period of time with the period stretching from one month up to a year depending on the policy. The deductibles of this plan is just the same like it is found in long-term insurance. The one significant difference is the starting and end dates of the coverage.

Except in accident coverage, all other kinds of coverage are subject to a review of medical records and health history. In Texas, the insurance carriers are free to deny insurance coverage to individuals or they can also place a rider on the policy. The riders are meant to either eliminate or restrict the benefits under some specific set of conditions.

As per the laws, coverage to dependents under the age of 19 cannot be declined in Texas. As per federal laws, dependents can stay covered under their parents' policies until the age of 26. However, this is expendable further in case of dependents with mental or physical disabilities.

On the whole, Texas presents a highly favorable climate for health insurance buyers. Both individuals and families can reap tremendous benefits from a wide array of health insurance plans that meet the multifarious health care needs of the residents. The presence of a long list of reputed and financially sound insurance carriers in the state is a matter of added advantage.