{Please, note this post has been written for my blog by Dr. Esteban Lopez in collaboration with Be Covered Texas.)
As a father of three and a practicing pediatrician, my family’s health is top of mind every day. I bet you feel the same. But do you know what role health insurance plays in maintaining a healthy lifestyle for you and your kids? While cost can be a major factor in deciding which plan is best for you and your family, there are other factors to consider.
I hope that the information in this article is helpful for you. If you need any additional information, though, please check out Be Covered Texas (BeCoveredTexas.org) for additional educational resources about health insurance and the benefits for your family. And if you don’t currently have insurance or need to renew, now is the time to act. You can enroll in health care coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace or Exchange (healthcare.gov) until January 31.
Be Covered Texas is an education and outreach campaign, sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shied of Texas, working with 68 Houston area (73 Dallas area) non-profit organizations to help Texans understand new health insurance opportunities. Through social media, community events, and the website BeCoveredTexas.org, the campaign provides information in English and Spanish about health insurance, how it works and how to decide what plan fits your family.
What is health insurance?
Health insurance is designed to make health care affordable. You pay a monthly payment called a premium and in exchange the insurance company pays certain costs.
But health insurance also works like a warranty from a car dealership — it pays for routine maintenance, such as certain screenings to check for diabetes or mammograms for early cancer detection to make sure you stay well, and fixes minor things that go wrong from time to time.
Why should your family have health insurance?
Routine care can add up, but the cost for a major illness or injury can be devastating. Health insurance is about covering the expenses that come with preventing illness and staying healthy, and being prepared for the worst that could happen.
Did You Know?
- The average cost of a trip to the emergency room for an adult is about $700, not including any tests or hospitalization, which may increase the bill to more than $1,000.
- Average expenses for childbirth are up to $8,800, and more than $10,000 for C-section delivery.
If you are pregnant, health insurance offers benefits to help you take care of yourself and your baby. With the right plan, you will not have to pay co-pays or added costs for these important services during and after pregnancy:
- Folic Acid supplements
- Gestational diabetes screening
- Rh Incompatibility screening
- Syphilis screening
- Urinary tract or other infection screening
- Expanded counseling for pregnant tobacco users
- Nursing support and counseling
- Access to breastfeeding supplies and equipment
Remember, now is the time to learn more about the health insurance options available to you and your family. Don’t wait for a health scare to consider coverage for the future. For more information on health insurance options for you and your family, visit www.BeCoveredTexas.org.
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