Health Insurance Plans in Edwards County, Texas, 2024

Edwards County is known for where the Nueces River begins. The winding waterway flows through at least a dozen counties to the Three Rivers area and then to the Gulf of Mexico. The other two rivers are the Atascosa and the Frio. Your journey to find health Insurance doesn’t have to be a winding adventure. Whether in the big city of Austin or the tiny town of Rocksprings, CoverMile can help you find health insurance that won’t leave you going batty in the process.

CoverMile is here to help you find the best health insurance in Edwards County at a price you can afford. Coverage exists for as low as $0 per month with subsidies. Let’s move on, and we can show you how.

2023 Health Insurance Facts in Edwards County, Texas

Texas has one of the country’s highest exchange enrollments, with 2.4 million for 2023. Only Florida has more individuals enrolling in health insurance. Texas also holds the highest uninsured rate in the country at 22.1 percent. We’ve held this position since the exchange system began.

Here are additional facts about health insurance in Texas.

• According to a US Census estimate, Edwards County’s population is 1422 residents. Of that total, 29.2 percent are uninsured. 
• By gender, of those insured, 57 percent are male, and 43 percent are female.
• Eighty-seven percent of consumers have access to three or more insurers in 2023. Through the ACA, Edwards County has access to two insurance providers.
• Fifty-nine percent of consumers have access to a plan from a national insurer; companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas are available to more than just a local area.
• 73.9 percent of Edwards County has health coverage. 26.9 percent obtain it with their employer, while 6.22 percent have it through non-group plans. 22.1 percent have Medicare insurance, 14.8 percent have insurance through Medicaid, and 3.77 percent obtain health care through the VA or the military.
• The average cost of a Silver health insurance plan in Texas is $454

Here are a few fun facts about the square County itself:

• Edwards County was named after Haden Edwards. He was a settler and land speculator. This meant he went into areas where land wasn’t owned, purchased, and sold it. He eventually had a falling out when he certified an election in favor of a relative. He lost the grant he was issued. This led to the expelling of all those he issued land to. Then to an uprising and the Fredonian Rebellion.
• Edwards County begins what encompasses the Edwards Plateau. It is east of the Pecos River and west of the Colorado River. It is a landmark for the Great Plains. It extends east to Travis County, north to McCulloch, and south to Medina County.
• The Nueces River forms the southeast border of Edwards County. It is the second longest river in Texas, surfacing in the center of the County and ending in Corpus Christi Bay.
• On April 12, 1927, an F5 tornado struck Rocksprings. One hundred and twenty-five people were injured, and seventy were killed. Most of the community’s buildings were destroyed.

• Edwards County only has three towns: its county seat of Rocksprings, Carta, and the southern town of Barksdale.
• Several natural areas within the County. One is Devil’s Sinkhole, a vertical cavern said to house millions of freetail bats.
• However, Edwards County does have five ghost towns: Carta Valley, Exile, Hackberry, Henze, and Kickapoo.

Do I Need Health Insurance in Edwards County, TX?

It is no longer a federal mandate that individuals carry health insurance. Only a handful of states have some form of a requirement. However, if you remain uninsured, you may face situations you may be unprepared for.

1. Healthcare costs.When you choose not to purchase health insurance, you will pay full price when you seek health care. Think of health insurance as having a membership to a big box store. When you present your card, you receive a discount. Health insurance acts the same way. Insurance companies contract with medical facilities to provide care to individuals at a negotiated rate.
2. Healthcare networks.After seeing your regular doctor, you may need to see a specialist. Having health insurance provides you with a network of doctors and facilities. This helps ease the concern of searching on your own. Especially since seeking advanced medical care may burden an already stressful situation.
3. Healthcare maintenance.Due to the Affordable Care Act mandates, health insurance provides free preventive care like well-checkups and immunizations. When one does not have health insurance, you must pay for these services out of pocket.

What are My Health Insurance Options in Edwards County, Texas?

Edwards County has several affordable health insurance options for Individuals and families who need health care. You can purchase through the ACA Marketplace or directly from a health insurance company.

Affordable Care Act/Marketplace – When insurance shopping through the Marketplace, you can search for a plan based on your location, family size, and annual income. That information lets you see if you qualify for premium tax credits and subsidies like cost-sharing reductions.

Direct Purchase – Before searching for a direct purchase from a health insurance company, double-check that you do not qualify for ACA tax credits and subsidies. You can save money if you are eligible. If you do not qualify, continue with your direct purchase from a health insurance provider. Many companies, like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, only have additional plan options on the insurance company’s website.

Short-term Health Insurance – Short-term Health Insurance is temporary health insurance that can help those needing insurance, but: it may be too early in the year for Open Enrollment, you’ve just started a job and the company benefits package has a waiting period, or you are waiting for your Medicare benefits to begin. Short-term Health Insurance covers an initial period of 364 days and can be renewed for an additional 24 months. Keep in mind Short-term Health Insurance has limits. It does not cover preexisting conditions, maternity care, or prescription medication.

Types of Insurance – HMOs, EPOs, and PPOs are the most common health insurance network types. Some insurance companies offer multiple network options. When you enroll, keep your primary doctor in mind. They must be within the insurance company’s network to be covered. If they aren’t, you will be charged out-of-network fees. Or, as with an EPO network, you may not have coverage at all.

Top Health Insurance Companies with the Highest Star Ratings in Edwards County, TX

What a customer is willing to pay for their policy over time is one of the main details top insurance ratings evaluate. Health insurance shoppers then use reviews to consider which insurance companies are best and purchase based on their research.

To address this concern, we’ve rated the top companies available in Edwards County based on their 2023 rates compared to their 2022 rates.

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas – 3.42% rate increase – BCBS of Texas had an increase in 2023. Although, they have continued to be a strong and reliable insurance provider through the years. BCBS has more plans available than other insurers; they also cover the entire state of Texas.
• ·      Ambetter – 10.7% rate increase – One primary benefit that sets Ambetter apart from the competition is that they offer Adult Dental and Vision options with some of their EPO network plans. Most insurance companies only provide the Children’s Dental mandated by the ACA 10 Essential benefits. Yet, the one thing Ambetter lacks is they do not offer a Bronze metal plan.

Top Six Health Insurance Plans for Edwards County, TX

Below, we’ve selected the best Silver metal plans for Edwards County, TX, from our reviewed companies. They are in order as they reflect the premium of a standard policy without Cost Sharing reductions.

Insurance company	Insurance Plan	Co-insurance	Deductible	Out-of-Pocket Max	Copay PCP/ Specialist	$0 Virtual Care PCP	Adult Dental/ Vision
BCBS of Texas	Blue Advantage Silver 205 HMO	50%	$1500/ $4500	$7250/ $14500	$15/50%	Fee Applies	Dental/ Vision as separate policies
BCBS of Texas	Blue Advantage Silver 705 HMO	40%	$5700/ $11400	$7200/ $14400	$30/$60	Fee Applies	Dental/ Vision as separate policies
Ambetter	Focused Silver EPO	50%	$5100/ $10,200	$6300/ $12,600	$35/$85	Yes	No
Ambetter	Complete Silver EPO	40%	$5000/ $10000	$7250/ $14500	$20/$50	Yes	No
Ambetter	Complete Silver +Vision +Adult Dental EPO	40%	$5000 /$10000	$7250 /14500	$20/$50	Yes	Yes
BCBS of Texas	Blue Advantage Plus Silver 202 HMO	50%	$1500/ $4250	$7250/ $14500	$20/50%	Fee Applies	Dental/ Vision as separate policies

How to Enroll in Health Insurance in Edwards County, TX?

There isn’t much difference to the enrollment process whether you live in Orange, Edwards, Corpus Christi, or Dallas County. Each must follow the standards set out by the Affordable Care Act.

When – The Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment begins on November 1^st and ends on December 31^st. Your health insurance starts on January 1^st. You can also enroll until January 15^th. This second chance deadline will give you a start date of February 1^st.

You can also enroll during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). One qualifies when:

• There is a change in the household. – This can include getting married or divorced; a birth or adoption; or a death in the family.
• You have a change in your residence. – If you move out of your zip code, this will require an insurance rate adjustment.
• You have a change to your health coverage. – When you or a spouse lose health coverage provided by an employer or an alternative source, you can apply for health insurance.

How – Applying through the ACA Marketplace is the simplest way to obtain health insurance. The website guides you through the enrollment process. You fill out your application, select your plan, and based on the info provided, you will be able to see if you qualify for tax subsidies. 

If you have questions when shopping for health insurance in Edwards County, TX, contact CoverMile. We can help you find the best coverage for your family’s needs.

How to Find Doctors Near Me in Edwards County, TX?

One concern many applicants have is whether they will be able to keep their current doctor or will have to switch. You can find this information easily by visiting the insurer’s website and searching for your doctor by name or the facility’s name. This search will tell you if they are in-network or out-of-network.

The links below will take you to each provider’s website and directory. You can find out if your doctor or the facility you frequent is covered. You can search by location, doctor’s name, and facility type. Each website is different, and some offer more information than others.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of TX

After entering your location, you can search Medical Care, Urgent Care, Behavior Health, and Cost Estimates. You can also search for pharmacy information, as well as for dental and Vision care.

Ambetter

Enter your plan information and location; you can find doctors and facilities in your area. You can also connect with Telehealth or talk with a nurse directly.