Need affordable health insurance?

There are new health care options available!

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, starting today Texans will have new  health insurance options through a Health Insurance Marketplace.     Open enrollment begins today, and Texans can shop and sign up for plans through March 2014. In  addition, individuals and families between 100 and 400 percent of the  federal poverty level (FPL) may be eligible to receive assistance with  their premiums.

Information  about these new health insurance plans and how to apply for Medicaid  and the Children’s Health Insurance Program can be found at www.healthcare.gov or by calling 1-800-318-2596.

 

Some important things to keep in mind:

• For individuals who are not eligible for assistance in the marketplace,  premiums will still be affordable.
• According to estimates from US Department of Health and Human Services, premiums before tax credits are expected to be more than 16 percent lower than estimated.
• In Texas, an average of 54 qualified health plans are anticipated to be selling coverage in the marketplace – increasing competition and lowering costs for consumers.
• With tax credits, premiums will be even more affordable.  For example, a 27 year old in Texas making $25,000/year could pay $133 per month for the lowest cost silver plan and $83 per month for the lowest cost bronze plan after tax credits. For a family of four making $50,000/year in Texas, premiums could be as low as $239 per month for a silver plan and $57 per month for a bronze plan after tax credits.

Still work to do 

While this is exciting news, we still have more work to do to  ensure that all Texans have access to quality, affordable health care.

As you may know, Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the nation with more than one in four lacking coverage – around 6 million people. In Houston, nearly one in three people are without health insurance. Lack of adequate health insurance coverage makes it hard for Texas families to get the health care they need, and if and when they do it often leaves them with large medical bills.

In fact, study after study has shown that one of the best ways to protect and improve the health of individuals and families is by expanding access to quality health insurance. Children do better in school and miss fewer days when they have health insurance. Parents and guardians can also provide a more consistent environment for their children to grow up in when the whole family is healthy.

Expanding access to health insurance is such an important issue that I worked tirelessly this past session to amend Medicaid expansion language onto every possible bill. Unfortunately, the Legislature failed to take action or provide an alternative plan to cover our most vulnerable populations, leaving hundreds of thousands of Texans with incomes below 100 percent of the FPL without health insurance options.

Percent uninsured by county

It’s time to expand Medicaid!

Expanding Medicaid would have provided an estimated 1.5 million uninsured Texans with health coverage.  This not only makes good sense for the health of our communities and the state – it also makes good business sense.  For an investment of $15 billion, Texas could draw down as much as $100 billion in federal funds over 10 years. In addition, this expansion is estimated to generate more than 300,000 Texas jobs annually over 10 years. According to a well-respected economist, Texas would see a return of $1.29 for every $1 spent on Medicaid expansion, which means it pays for itself.

The expansion of Medicaid costs less in four years than what Texas hospitals spend on the uninsured population in one year. Currently, hospitals absorb more than $5 billion per year in uncompensated care, a loss that is passed on to you in the form of higher health care costs and direct taxes in areas that have hospital districts.

The needs of these individuals will not disappear if Texas fails to expand Medicaid, but the state will continue to lose out on a nine-to-one match and pass the cost down to local hospitals and ultimately to taxpayers.  If you are one of the more than one million hard-working Texans who was left out of coverage options, please visit TexasLeftMeOut.org to sign the petition and tell your story.

I will continue to advocate for Medicaid expansion, and I hope I can count on your assistance to inform your family and friends about these new health insurance options and the importance of expanding coverage in our state.

Sincerely,

Rodney Ellis