Health Insurance
Health Insurance News
OPIC’s 2019 Achievements
OPIC has been working hard for consumers this year, analyzing over 2,100 rules, rates, and policy forms. We are a small, 10-person agency, but we did big things in 2019, saving Texas consumers over $41 million. Here are some of our biggest achievements: Negotiated an...
What You Need to Know About Medical Codes
What Are Medical Codes? Medical codes are the way doctors and other healthcare professionals describe medical diagnoses and treatments. These codes are important for understanding how medical billing works and can affect what you pay and what is covered under your...
Know Your Coverage: Air Ambulances
What is an air ambulance? Air ambulances are medical transport aircraft such as helicopters or airplanes that take patients to medical facilities. Like regular ground ambulances, air ambulances have medical equipment, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians. An...
Insurance Consumer Protections from the 2019 Legislative Session
The 86th Texas Legislative Session concluded on May 27, 2019. Several bills passed that positively impact Texas insurance consumers. Below are summaries highlighting some of the consumer protection bills passed by the Texas Legislature and signed by the Governor. To...
Getting Married? 5 Insurance Tips for Newlyweds and Engaged Couples
If you’re engaged or newly married, the last thing on your mind is reviewing your insurance needs or updating your policies. However, before tying the knot, it’s important to sit down and discuss your current insurance situation and what you might need to change...
What You Need to Know About Preauthorization
What is Preauthorization? Health plans may require your doctor to get approval before they will pay for certain medical treatments. This process of advance approval is called preauthorization. Timelines for PreauthorizationWhen a health plan gets a request from a...
Understanding the Basics of Long-Term Care Insurance
If you or a loved one cannot live independently, the costs of personal care can be very high. Long-term care insurance can help pay for the costs of personal care, but it’s important to understand how it is different from health insurance and when it can be...
What Are Your Rights if a Drug is Removed From Your Health Plan’s Drug Formulary?
Did you know your health plan can change your medicine coverage? Your health plan must notify you if it removes a medicine from its formulary or limits your access to a medicine. Your plan must continue to cover a medicine until renewal. Your health plan has to...
Health Insurance Works Differently in Emergencies!
Emergency care can vary in price and services depending on where you go. You can save time and money and get the care you need if you know: the differences between emergency room (ER) facilities and urgent care centers, and how to get info about your insurance...