Tips for buying a health plan and getting what you want

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) has tips to help you find a health plan that fits your needs and your budget.

Open enrollment to buy a plan on HealthCare.gov starts on November 1 and ends January 15.

TDI offers these HealthCare.gov tips:

• Note these deadlines for plans:
  • Buy a plan by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1.
  • Buy a plan by January 15 for coverage that starts February 1.
• If you have a health plan, consider looking at other plans to make sure you're getting the best coverage for the price. New plans come out every year.
• Update your income every year to know if you qualify for a premium tax credit to lower your premium.
• Ask each plan you're considering if you can still use your current doctors and specialists and get your current medications.
• Know what you'll have to pay in copays, deductibles and coinsurance. Ask if the plan covers any visits before you meet the deductible.
• Ask if you have to use doctors, hospitals, and urgent care centers in the plan's network or if you can use any that you want. Ask what the cost difference is.
• Ask the plan if you need a referral from a primary care doctor to visit a specialist.

Use TDI's Health plan shopping checklist for questions to ask when buying a health plan.

Have a question about insurance? Call TDI at 800-252-3439 or visit https://www.tdi.texas.gov.