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Get Health Insurance In Fort Worth, Texas


Finding a health plan in Fort Worth, is not as simple as it may seem.  Unless you can land coverage through you employer, you likely have some research to do, and a bit of an haelht insurance plan learning curve that you will need to negotiate   If you're wondering how to begin, we are here to help.  Below are a few important tips for acquiring great health plan coverage in Fort Worth, Texas.

Facts About Fort Worth
Fort Worth was established in 1849 as an army outpost on a bluff overlooking the Trinity River.  Fort Worth has historically been a center of the longhorn cattle trade.  It still embraces its Western heritage and traditional architecture and design.
Fort Worth is located in North Texas.  and is part of the Cross Timbers region.  This region is a boundary between the more heavily forested eastern parts and the rolling hills and prairies of the central part.  Specifically, the city is part of the Grand Prairie ecoregion within the Cross Timbers.  According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 349.2 square miles (904 km2), of which 342.2 square miles (886 km2) is land and 7.0 square miles (18 km2) is covered by water. It is a principal city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, and the second largest.
Familiarize yourself with the different types of health care coverages

There are several types of health care plan options that you may choose from in Fort Worth, TX.  Maybe even a couple that you may not be aware of - like health care sharing plans.  Health care sharing plans, or faith-based health plans, as they are sometimes referred to, function very much like traditional health insurance plans.  However, technically they are not actually insurance.  There are also the new short-term plans.  The benefits of some of the short term plans offered currently are so much better than what was available previously, they really should be considered a brand new option.

Let's take a closer look at options available in the Fort Worth Texas region.

Health plan options In Fort Worth Texas Include:

  • Traditional health insurance options.
    Traditional health insurance refers to health insurance plans offered through the health insurance exchange created by the Affordable Care Act legislation (ACA). Companies offering these plans include: BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna.
  • Short term health insurance plans.
    Short-term health insurance plans are not so "short" any more.  Do to recent changes in health insurance guidelines, you can now, in some cases, within some states, keep the same low-cost short-term health insurance plan for as long as 3 years.   Companies offering these plans include: United Healthcare, National General.
  • Faith-based healthcare coverage (Healthcare sharing plans).
    The number of subscribers in faith-based, or healthcare sharing plans is possibly growing faster than any other segment of the health care plan industry.  In most cases, you are not required to be affiliated with any religion entity in order to join.  Health care sharing plan benefits vary depending on the company.  Plans are usually quite affordable.  Companies offering these plans include: OneShare Health.


Good to know:  Many plans don't provide drug benefits, or discounts, even on generics, until you reach your deductible, which is often in the thousands of dollars.  Instead of just accepting your insurance plan's lousy prescription drug benefit, try using websites such as Blinkhealth.com or Goodrx.com to shop around for the best price for your medication in your area.


When reviewing your health plan options, be sure to take a close look at the summary of benefits of each plan you are considering.  Most health plans summaries can be found online somewhere within the description of benefits on most any major health insurance plan website.  If you don't see it, request it before applying for any plan.  A provider directory, which displays the facilities and physicians that are part of the plan's physician network, should also be readily available.

Also, when comparing various plans, make certain to pay serious attention to your family's current medical needs.  Consider the cost and manner of treatment you have gotten in the past.  Though it is not possible to foretell every future medical circumstance, being aware of your family's medical history can assist you in making the right decision.

John Peter Smith Hospital - health insurance
John Peter Smith Hospital
1500 S Main St
Fort Worth, TX 76104
Telephone: (817) 702-3431
Plus Code: PMGF+P4 Fort Worth, Texas






Review physician / hospital Networks

Be sure to check the hospital/physician network of any plan that you are considering.  Make certain the specific hospitals or doctors you desire, are participating in the network.  The expense of utilizing a physician or hospital that is out-of-network, can be staggering.  Insurance firms negotiate with physicians and hospitals to obtain more reasonable rates.  When you opt out of the network, those negotiated rates are not available to you.  If you have personal doctors and you want to keep visiting them, make certain they are part of the provider network associated with your plan.

Good to know:  Check medical bills for errors.  Medical billing errors happen a lot more than you would think.  Oddly, these errors almost always benefit the hospital or medical facility.  Make sure that you receive an itemized bill in the mail.  These bills delineate in detail the charges you incurred for each of your medical procedures.  In this regard, they contain greater utility than the explanation of benefits (EOB) you generally receive in the mail.  If your medical bill omits key information regarding charges incurred, contact your healthcare facility and ask for an itemized bill.  Once you have received this bill, review it carefully.  Did you actually receive every procedure listed?  If so, is the cost what you were promised beforehand?  Additionally, look out for billing errors when it comes to pharmaceuticals.  Often, healthcare billers make the mistake of charging individuals for name-brand drugs instead of generic drugs.



Compare potential out-of-pocket costs

The most important part of any health plan is the amount you will be responsible to pay should a medical need arise.  Make sure you have a good understanding of what your chosen coverage pays toward medical bills, and what you will have to pay.  You need to be clear on this issue for most every possible medical circumstance.  This includes office visits, x-rays and laboratory tests, emergency room visits, hospital procedures and stays, etc.  Also, make sure you know the maximum amount your plan will pay toward every medical circumstance.  Many plans have lifetime limits.  Some plans have procedure limits.  These are things you do not want to learn of after you have a medical incident and receive a bill.

Other articles:
Explaining The Growth of Healthcare Sharing Healthplans
Is Short-Term Health Insurance Right For You?
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