Ambetter Insurance Plan Guide for Texas 2024

All You Need to Know About Ambetter Insurance Plans for 2024

Ensuring your family has the best health insurance in Texas is the most important item on your honey-do list. The worst thing you want is to purchase an insurance policy, then when you go to use it, find that it does not provide the coverage you thought it did. We at CoverMile are here to help you understand what Ambetter Health Insurance has to offer. Through this plan guide, our goal is to show you what their coverage chart means to you.

Health Insurance Terms to Understand

Before we start, we want to provide you with a few common definitions you will come across while you are insurance shopping. Understanding these terms will aid you in selecting the best health coverage that will best fit your situation.

Deductible – Deductibles are the amount you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance begins to pay its portion. Ambetter has deductibles between $0 and $6,300, depending on the plan you select. Deductibles are based on the calendar year and refresh each year. They will also determine how much you will pay for your policy. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium will be; the lower your deductible, the higher your premium. Your deductible is broken down into two parts:

            Individual: This is the per-person amount you will pay.

            Family: This is the amount you pay for the entire family.

This is often labeled on your Summary of Benefit in fraction form. For instance, $750 Individual/$1500 Family, or $750/$1500. Each member has their own $750 deductible to meet. You can read more about deductibles through the above link.

Coinsurance – Coinsurance is when your insurance kicks in. It begins once you meet your deductible. This is cost sharing between you and the insurance company, usually expressed as a percentage. An Ambetter Silver metal plan would reflect 40% coinsurance. This is the amount you would pay after your deductible is met. Coinsurance is refreshed each year.

Out-of-Pocket Max–Your insurance has a failsafe. It’s called the out-of-pocket max. This spending cap helps those with large families, those who visit the doctor regularly, and those with chronic medical conditions. When you meet your deductible, pay through your coinsurance, and reach the out-of-pocket amount listed in your policy, your insurance will begin to pay 100 percent of medical expenses for that person listed on the policy. This continues for the remainder of the calendar year.

Primary Care Physician – Your Primary Care Physician (PCP) is the main doctor you visit for your medical care. Ambetter is both an HMO and an EPO. First, with an HMO, you are required to coordinate all treatment through them. However, you can see a doctor outside of the network with the insurance company’s permission when medically necessary. With Ambetter EPOs network, you must remain within their network of doctors and facilities, or you will not have coverage. This rule does not apply if you are experiencing an emergency. It is important to notify Ambetter of your situation as soon as possible.

Co-pay – Co-pays are the fees you pay when you visit a doctor or medical facility. They can be a flat dollar amount or a percentage, depending on the type of plan you have. Keep in mind that this fee is for the visit alone and not any treatment you may receive. However, some visit fees will cover some items like well check-ups and immunizations. See your medical plan for details.

Now that you know the basics of health insurance, let’s get into the plans Ambetter offers.

Ambetter and the Affordable Care Act

Ambetter health insurance plans are part of the Affordable Care Act. They are broken down into Bronze, Silver, and Gold metals. Most of their plans are offered on the Marketplace website.

The one thing you will discover unique about Ambetter is that in Texas, they do not offer a Bronze metal plan. This was a change for 2023, it continues into 2024. Below, we are listing a wide choice of plans they offer based on price, deductible, and coinsurance.

To simplify our table, you will see the Individual and Family Deductibles and Out-of-Pocket Max expressed as a fraction. The first number is your Individual amount, and the second is your Family. All numbers are for in-network providers.

Ambetter HMO Bronze

Ambetter does not offer a Bronze metal-tiered health plan in Texas. They discontinued the metal level in 2022. You can contact Ambetter directly for more information.

Ambetter HMO Silver

Ambetter Silver has several plan options. All of which are available on the Marketplace. Silver plans qualify for premium tax credits and ACA Cost Sharing Reductions, where applicants can save on their health insurance premiums when they make between 100% and 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

Altogether, Ambetter has six Virtual Access categories. 94%, 87%, 73%, Zero cost, Standard and Limited. Let’s take a look at some of these plans. Keep in mind that to take advantage of the cost-sharing benefits, one must qualify for the plan levels listed.

The Virtual Access Silver Standard is Ambetter’s primary plan if you are not interested in applying for cost-sharing reductions or you do not qualify for premium tax credits.

HMO Silver	Virtual Access Silver 94% AV	Virtual Access Silver 87% AV	Virtual Access Silver 73% AV	Virtual Access Silver Standard
Deducible	$100/$200	$500/$1000	$5500/$11,000	$5700/$11,400
Coinsurance	50%	50%	50%	50%
Out-of-Pocket Max	$900/$1800	$2800/$5600	$6900/$13,800	$7400/$14,800
Primary Care Visit	$15	$20	$30	$40
Specialist Visit	$30	$35	$70	$100
Emergency Room	50%	$50	50%	50%
Urgent Care	$10	$10	$50	$60
Virtual Visit	$0	$0	$0	$0
Inpatient Hospital	50%	50%	50%	50%
Outpatient Hospital	50%	50%	50%	50%
Prescription (Pharmacy)	$0/$20/50%/ 50%*	$3/$10/$40/ 50%/50%*	$3/$20/$70/ 50%/50%*	$3/$25/$75/ 50%/50%*

*Prescription Tiers are Preferred Generic, Generic Retail, Preferred. Non-Preferred. and Specialty

Ambetter Value Network

If you live within the following thirteen Texas counties, you have additional plan options called the Value Network.  

Bexar, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Fort Bend, Harris, Montgomery, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, and Williamson.

Within the Value Network, you will find different categories: Complete, Clear, Focused, and Standard. Also, though we did not list them below, each plan has cost-sharing benefits available. In addition, you have the ability to purchase Ambetter Standard plans on and off market. This gives you the option to purchase directly if you do not qualify for subsidies and are searching for affordable health insurance in Texas. Contact CoverMile for more information about all the Value Network plan options available.

HMO Silver	Complete VALUE Silver Standard	Clear VALUE Silver Standard	Focused VALUE Silver Standard	Standard VALUE Silver Standard
Deducible	$6000/$12,000	$5400/$10,800	$6300/$12,600	$5900/$11,800
Coinsurance	40%	0%	50%	40%
Out-of-Pocket Max	$8500/$17,000	$5400/$10,800	$8000/$16,000	$9100/$18,200
Primary Care Visit	$30	$0	$45	$40
Specialist Visit	$60	$0	$100	$80
Emergency Room	40%	$0 after deductible	50%	40%
Urgent Care	$60	$0 after deductible	$60	$60
Virtual Visit	$0	$0	$0	$0
Inpatient Hospital	40%	$0 after deductible	50%	40%
Outpatient Hospital	40%	$0 after deductible	50%	40%
Prescription (Pharmacy)	$3/$20/$55/ 50%/50%*	$0/$0/0%/ 0%*	$3/$20/$75/ 50%/50%*	$20/$20/$40 /$80/$350*

*Prescription Tiers are Preferred Generic, Generic Retail, Preferred. Non-Preferred. and Specialty

Ambetter HMO Gold

Ambetter Gold has nine named plans. They are divided like the silver plans were: Standard and cost-sharing. Their offerings are limited to Virtual Access and standard plans, but they have an additional category called Everyday.

Gold has the highest level of coverage and provides the lowest deductibles, co-pays, and overall out-of-pocket insurance cost. However, with the level of coverage, you will find a higher price tag. Gold plans are best suited for those who visit the doctor frequently, those with critical illnesses, and individuals who expect to seek advanced medical care in the near future.

HMO Gold	Standard Gold VALUE Standard	Everyday VALUE Standard	Standard Virtual Access Standard
Deducible	$1500/$3000	$750/$1500	$1500/$3000
Coinsurance	25%	35%	25%
Out-of-Pocket Max	$8700/$17,400	$7500/$15,000	$8700/$17,400
Primary Care Visit	$30	$35	$30
Specialist Visit	$60	$55	$60
Virtual Visit	$0	$0	$0
Emergency Room	25%	35%	25%
Urgent Care	$45	$35	$45
Inpatient Hospital	25%	35%	25%
Outpatient Hospital	25%	35%	25%
Prescription (Pharmacy)	$15/$15/$30/$60/$250*	$3/$15/$60/50%/50%*	$15/$15/$30/$60/$250*

*Prescription Tiers are Preferred Generic, Generic Retail, Preferred. Non-Preferred. and Specialty

 

Ambetter EPO Plans

Ambetter offers EPO plans on both Silver and Gold tiers. The advantage of Ambetter’s EPO is that you are given an Adult Dental and Vision option. With their EPO option, it includes the ability to add a Health Savings Account to your health insurance plan.

EPO Silver, just like HMO plans, offers a variety of plans. With an EPO, you are required to use only the doctors and facilities within your coverage area. If you see a doctor not approved by Ambetter, you will pay out-of-pocket for your visit and the treatment you receive. However, if you are in an emergency, you can receive treatment with Ambetter’s approval.

EPO Silver	Complete Silver Standard	Clear Silver Standard	Focused Silver Standard	Standard Silver Standard
Deducible	$6000/$12,000	$5400/$10,800	$6300/$12,600	$5900/$11,800
Coinsurance	40%	0%	50%	40%
Out-of-Pocket Max	$8500/$17,000	$5400/$10,800	$8000/$16,000	$9100/$18,100
Primary Care Visit	$30	$0	$45	$40
Specialist Visit	$60	$0	$100	$80
Emergency Room	40%	$0 after deductible	50%	40%
Urgent Care	$60	$0 after deductible	$60	$60
Virtual Visit	$0	$0	$0	$0
Inpatient Hospital	40%	0% after deductible	50%	40%
Outpatient Hospital	40%	0% after deductible	50%	40%
Prescription (Pharmacy)	$3/$20/$55/ 50%/50%*	$0/$0/0%/ 0%*	$3/$25/$75 /50%/50%*	$20/$20//$40 $80/$350*

*Prescription Tiers are Preferred Generic, Generic Retail, Preferred. Non-Preferred. and Specialty

EPO Gold plans have a lower deductible and coinsurance; this provides you with greater coverage. However, for that coverage, you will pay a higher premium. Health insurance in Texas is a balance. Pay a little more now or pay more later when you receive the health care services.

EPO Gold	Complete Gold Standard	Clear Gold Standard	Focused Standard	Everyday Standard
Deducible	$1450/$2900	$900/$1800	$1500/$3000	$750/$1500
Coinsurance	20%	30%	25%	35/%
Out-of-Pocket Max	$7500/$15,000	$8700/$17,400	$8700/$14,000	$7500/$15,000
Primary Care Visit	$15	$25	$30	$35
Specialist Visit	$35	$60	$60	$55
Emergency Room	20%	30%	25%	35%
Urgent Care	$35	$35	$45	$35
Virtual Visit	$0	$0	$0	$0
Inpatient Hospital	20%	30%	25%	35%
Outpatient Hospital	20%	30%	25%	35%
Prescription (Pharmacy)	$5/$30/30%/ 30%*	$3/$15/$40/ 50%/50%*	$15$15/$30 $30/$250*	$5/$15/$60/ 50%/ 50%*

*Prescription Tiers are Preferred Generic, Generic Retail, Preferred. Non-Preferred. and Specialty

Ambetter EPO Adult Dental and Vision Insurance

Select Ambetter EPO plans offer Adult Dental and Vision. Their health insurance plans are identical to the ones lined out above, only with the addition of the following:

• Routine eye care– one visit and one item per year with a dollar allowance on hardware.
• Dental care – visit and items limit per year. $1000 annual limit per person per year.

Keep in mind that dental services are for adults only. Ambetter health insurance does not cover children’s dental. It does cover children’s vision as part of its basic health insurance policies. This coverage includes one visit and one vision item per year.

Ambetter and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

Ambetter offers a variety of HSA medical plans. Health Savings Accounts are a savings vehicle one can use to pay for medical expenses. They are often tied to a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). These plans are lower priced and can benefit those who are healthy, rarely visit the doctor, or are only concerned about the occasional illness. If you want details about HSAs, it is best to contact a tax professional because they involve opening a savings account along with your insurance policy. We at CoverMile can provide you with information on the health insurance end and answer any questions you may have.

Ambetter and Medicare

If you are near Medicare age, an Ambetter policyholder, and are looking for a Medicare Advantage plan, Ambetter has a Medicare partner, Allwell. You can make a smooth transition from your health insurance policy into Medicare Advantage. If you have additional questions about Medicare, CoverMile can assist you in answering them. Visit our website for more information.

Finding a Doctor or Facility in Your Network

Both HMOs and EPOs require you to remain within your network to maintain benefits. Only HMOs allow you to use out-of-network facilities when medically necessary and with Ambetter approval. However, both HMOs and EPOs allow you to be seen by an out-of-network medical professional in the event of an emergency where transportation to an in-network facility would be life-threatening.

Ambetter helps you search for doctors and facilities near you on their website. You select your location, the plan you are on, then how you want to access your care: find a facility, access Virtual Access/Telehealth benefits, or talk to a nurse via their helpline.

Benefit Notices:

Keep in mind that the above is a summary of highlights only.

–The benefits above represent what a member would pay using a participating provider. When a non-participating provider is used, benefits are reduced.

–You may be required to pay costs up to the deductible before your plan begins to pay for covered services. What is shown is the per-person deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. Some services your deductible does not apply, i.e., doctors’ visits and lower tiered prescription coverage.

–All percentages shown are of the allowable amount for covered services.

–Four prescription drug payment level tiers: Preferred Generic, Generic Retail, Preferred. Non-Preferred. and Specialty

–MyHealth Pays – rewards program for completing healthy behaviors. Earn points that can be converted to funds you can use toward health-related costs such as bills and premiums.

–24/7 Virtual Care – access to doctors in non-emergency situations via video or phone. Also included is a Nurse Line to answer questions you may have about health, medications, or if you need to go to the ER.

Prescription Coverage with Ambetter

Ambetter provides prescription coverage for its members. Each plan has different coverage levels depending on the policy purchased.  

• Dual Generic Co-Pay levels – Plan has two generic levels. Preferred Generic Retail and Generic Retail. It is a higher cost for a different level brand of prescription drug.
• Drug Cost Portal – You can view your drug’s cost before purchasing it by inputting the name of your prescription into the portal.
• Prior Authorization – In some cases, you will need prior approval to fill prescriptions. Ambetter may suggest a more cost-effective drug instead of a prescribed prescription.
• Mail order – Depending on your drug benefit, you may be able to have your prescription mailed to your home. A three-month supply will save you on prescription costs as you will only be billed for 2.5x of your prescription cost.

Ambetter can help you find a pharmacy in your area through its website.

At CoverMile, we can assist you in finding the best health insurance in Texas. We will take the time to talk you through each plan, help you understand what Ambetter offers, and guide you through signing up for Affordable Care Act insurance. Contact us today.