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What is Telemedicine?

Telemedicine is a relatively new concept in healthcare. It has been around for decades but only recently been accepted by state legislatures and private insurance providers.

The definition of telemedicine varies, but it usually refers to remote patient care with technologies like videoconferencing, teleradiology, and broadband internet. For some patients, using these types of technologies means they can get care without having to leave their homes or offices.
Telemedicine services may also allow patients to avoid expensive trips to emergency rooms for non-emergencies.

Does My Health Insurance Cover Telemedicine?

“The COVID-19 pandemic has probably changed the overall acceptance of telemedicine forever.”

Recently, telemedicine has emerged as an increasingly popular alternative to face-to-face visits with doctors. With most forms of medical treatment now covered by insurance plans, consumers have been wondering: what about telemedicine? How much does my health insurance cover for telemedicine visits? Which conditions will my plan cover via video conferencing – if any at all?

It turns out that whether your visit is covered will depend on where you live and your specific plan details. Policies vary from insurer to insurer, but many states now recognize that reducing the use of costly hospital admissions would help payers lower overall healthcare costs.

Coverage for telemedicine in insurance is impacted by laws and insurance company policies. While some are more progressive than others, many state legislatures and private health insurance providers are recognizing how telemedicine can reduce costs and keep people healthier.

The COVID-19 pandemic has probably changed the overall acceptance of telemedicine forever. The majority of states and most of the US territories changed their legislation to allow telemedicine on a temporary basis, and several of these states have kept this legislation permanently.

So before asking whether or which insurance allows telemedicine, it’s worth checking into whether or not your state allows telemedicine in the first place. A complete list by state is here; the list also includes which states have temporary pandemic policies in place. You can also give our health insurance hotline a call for further information.

How Can I Get Insurance That Includes Telemedicine?

If you would like to get insurance that includes coverage for telemedicine services, or if you’d check whether or not your insurance allows telemedicine, why not talk to one of our experts at our health insurance hotline? They’ll take time to understand your unique situation and will help you understand the available choices that suit your needs. Click the button below to reach out to us, and one of our experts will personally get in touch with you, or just call 855-218-3447 to speak with an expert directly.

Texan Beginnings

Although the network is now officially headquartered in Chicago (not unlike some other companies that got their start in the Lone Star State), the original Blue Cross insurer was headquartered in Dallas. Founded during the height of the Great Depression in the late 1920s, the company pioneered the concept of the insurance network, offering Texas teachers plans to guarantee hospital care for $6/ year. Initially, the company was only focused on providing hospital care, but merged in the 1980s with the California-based Blue Shield company, which was originally created to insure physician care for miners and lumberjacks in the Pacific Northwest region.

Is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas the Same as Blue Cross Blue Shield?

The name “Blue Cross Blue Shield” doesn’t represent a single company, but rather a network of companies that services people in all 50 States, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, and 3 Latin American countries. As such, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is a division of a company called HCSC (Health Care Service Corporation), which also serves as the licensee for BCBS in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. So yes, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is the same as any other company that uses the Blue Cross-Blue Shield name, yet part of an individual company that services Texas.

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas Cover Everyone In Texas?

While of course, Dallas, Austin, and Houston Health Insurance customers represent a major percentage of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas’ members, the company does cover all areas of Texas. Recently, the company has stated that its network includes over 80,000 physicians and 500 hospitals in the state alone. With numbers like that, there’s no doubt you’ll be able to find a nearby physician or hospital that accepts BCBS insurance, even if you live in a rural area. In fact, the company often tags itself as the “only statewide, customer-owned insurance company in Texas”, which reflects its commitment to servicing its actual customers, not shareholders.

Is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas Good Insurance?

When measured by network size alone, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is associated with more physicians and hospitals than everyone else in the state, which means that members have access to the best doctors and facilities available. Outside of its extensive network, the company offers a variety of plans to suit every need, family size, family type, and financial status, so customers are able to find the best insurance solution for their situation.

What Type of Insurance is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas?

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas offers several types of insurance and insurance plans, such as employer-provided and private insurance plans, dental and optical plans, and more.

How Do I Get Health Insurance Without a Job?

Texans who have been laid off or have lost their job can obtain affordable private health insurance- even if outside the typical COBRA or healthcare enrollment periods. Just call one of our representatives or fill out the form below, and we can help you get set up with the insurance you need at a price you can afford.

How Can I Sign Up For Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas?

To sign up for Blue Cross Blue Shield or to get a walkthrough to find out which health insurance plan is best for you, simply fill out the form below and one of our expert representatives will call you. Or, if you’d like to call us directly, call 1-855-218-3447; our experts are standing by.

Just fill out the form below and our experts will help you get the right health insurance for your needs.

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