The Texas department of Insurance has announced a new public-private partnership to entice small employers so that they offer health insurance at work. It is expected that those employers will buy insurance for the employees, and their dependents will be able to save up to a third of the premiums through this program.
The enrollment for the Healthy Texas Program, as the partnership between TDI and private health carriers is named, will begin from September. To enroll, interested employers will make application directly to participating health plans Celtic Insurance Company or United Healthcare, or apply through an insurance agent. Employers may also apply through 3-Share Programs that participate in Healthy Texas.
Only 32% of the small businesses in Texas offer health insurance to their workers at present. Healthy Texas program enables small businesses to purchase affordable benefit plans that are in compliance with the federal healthcare laws. They would also be eligible for tax credits as promised in the Affordability Act.
There are no subsidies on premium in this program. Instead it uses both private as well public funds to meet healthcare claims costs. Healthy Texas program will pay for 80% of an individual’s total claim of $5000-$75,000 in a calendar year.
The program builds on existing employer based health insurance model that will minimize additional administrative costs. The infrastructure will be compatible with an insurance exchange model.
Out of the present six million uninsured Texans, a majority of them are employed. This public-private health insurance partnership will hope to minimize that population.
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