Health Insurance Plans in Kenedy County, Texas, 2024

Kenedy County is known for having the largest ranch in the nation, King Ranch. But don’t let that size fool you, Kenedy is also one of the smallest counties in the country. Third behind Loving County and, ironically, King County, all three are within the state of Texas. Yet, regardless of size, everyone needs health insurance from large cities like Austin or small towns like Sarita. While health insurance may seem confusing, We at CoverMile are here to assist you with clearing up the confusion. We aim to show you what is available, and it doesn’t require a golf cart to coarse the land to survey your options.

CoverMile’s aim is to help you find the best health insurance in Kenedy County, TX, at the lowest prices. You can find coverage for as low as $0 per month with subsidies. Read on, and we can show you how.

Health Insurance Facts for 2023 in Kenedy County, Texas

Texas Health insurance is unique, and while counties like Kenedy may be among the smallest in the state, Texas overall has the second largest exchange enrollment in the nation, with 2.4 million for 2023. Only Florida has more. Texas also holds the highest uninsured rate in the country at 22.1 percent. We’ve held that position since the implementation of the exchange system.

Here are additional facts about health insurance in Texas.

• According to a U.S. Census estimate, Kenedy County has a population of 358 residents. Of that total, 26.3 percent are uninsured.
• By gender, of those insured, 48.2 percent were men, and 51.8 percent were female.
• Currently, through the ACA, Eighty-seven percent of Texas insurance shoppers have access to three or more companies in 2023. This is unchanged from 2022. Kenedy County has access to two insurance providers.
• 72.6 percent of Kenedy County has health coverage. 42.2 percent have insurance through Medicaid. Just over seventeen percent obtain it with their employer, and thirteen percent have Medicare insurance. None are through non-group plans, the V.A., or military plans.
• Overall, Fifty-nine percent of the country has access to coverage through a national insurer; these include companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, which is available in every state.
• The average cost of a Silver health insurance plan in Texas is $454
  
  

Here are a few fun facts about the tiny county itself:

• Sarita is an unincorporated area; it is also the County Seat. Other tiny towns of King County are Armstrong, Norias, and Rudolph.
• King Ranch is the largest ranch in the United States at 825,000 acres.
• King Ranch is a ranch founded by Captain Richard King in early 1853. It encompasses six Texas counties: Brooks, Jim Wells, Nueces, and Willacy. Then, divided into four divisions: Santa Gertudis, Laurelis, Encino, and Norias, which is the Division within Kenedy County. It is now a National Historic Place as of 1966.
• The land King Ranch covers is larger than the state of R.I., 1289 square miles versus 1055 square miles.
• Kenedy County includes the Gulf of Mexico shoreline that serves Baffin Bay, Rivera Beach, Padre Island South, and Laguna Madre.
• Novels have been written about King Ranch. Amongst these are Giant, Forever Texas, Centennial, and Lord of the Land. Giant was made into a feature film.
• In 1999, Ford began using the King Ranch brand on its vehicles: Ford F-150, Super Duty, Explorer, and Expedition. One distinguishing mark is the brown leather seats.

Do I Need Health Insurance in Kenedy County, TX?

In 2019, the federal mandate for individual health coverage was rescinded. Today, only a handful of states still have this law; Texas isn’t one of them. However, when you choose not to purchase health insurance, even in a small county such as Kenedy, you may find there are issues you may not have considered.

1. Healthcare costs. When one does not purchase health coverage, when you visit a medical facility, you end up paying full price for your health care. Consider health insurance as having a membership to your favorite retailer. When you show your card at the register, you receive a discount. Health insurance is similar. Insurance companies contract with medical providers to extend care to individuals at a negotiated rate.
2. Healthcare networks. When you receive treatment from your primary doctor or provider, you may need advanced care. When you have health insurance, you have a network of doctors and facilities to expedite your medical treatment. This can ease your worries, especially since looking for a specialist or advanced care facility on your own may add to an already stressful situation.
3. Healthcare maintenance. Having health insurance provides you and your family with preventive care. Most of these benefits are free due to the Affordable Care Act mandates. If you do not have health insurance, you must pay for these services out of pocket.

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

Kenedy County Individuals and families have options for healthcare. You can purchase health insurance through the ACA Marketplace or directly from a health insurance provider. Each option has its benefits.

Affordable Care Act/Marketplace – When signing up for a Marketplace insurance plan, you and your family search for the best plan available. The Affordable Care Act site will inform you if you qualify for premium tax credits and subsidies like cost-sharing reductions.

Direct Purchase – First, before you purchase directly from an insurance company, always double-check to see if you qualify for tax credits and subsidies. If you don’t, you still have options with a direct purchase from a health insurance provider. In some cases, like with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, you may have additional plan options only available on the insurance company’s website.

Types of Insurance – Insurance companies may offer different network options when you sign up, whether through the Marketplace or a direct purchase. The primary three offered are HMOs, EPOs, and PPOs. When you select your plan, you can sometimes choose your network type. However, when searching, ensure that your doctor is within the plan’s network. If he is not, you can incur out-of-network fees.

Short-term Health Insurance – If you don’t need health insurance for an extended period of time or you are outside of Open Enrollment, Short-Term Insurance may be a consideration for your medical needs. This type of insurance is designed to bridge the gap from today until the November 1^st Open Enrollment period or your employer’s benefits package kicks in. Short-term insurance covers an initial period of 364 days and can be renewed for an additional 24 months. Keep in mind that Short Term Health Insurance has its limits. It does not cover preexisting conditions, maternity care, or prescription medication.

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

If you are looking for health insurance in Kenedy County, you may wonder which insurance company is best for your family. You will have questions about premiums, how much they’ve charged in the past, and what your future costs may look like. To address this concern, we have rated the top companies available in Kenedy County based on their 2023 rates as compared to their 2022 rates.⃰

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas – 3.42% increase – Although BCBS of Texas has seen a premium increase this year, they continue to prove they are a strong and reliable insurance company. They have more plans available than other providers. They also offer coverage to the entire state of Texas.

Top Health Insurance Plans for Kenedy County, TX

Below, we have selected the best insurance plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield of TX for Kenedy County, TX ⃰. We’ve listed them in order of premium for a standard policy without Cost Sharing Reductions. This list includes Bronze and Gold plans.However, be aware only Silver metal plans offer Cost Sharing Reductions.   

Insurance company	Insurance Plan	Co-insurance	Deductible	Out-of-Pocket Max	Copay PCP/ Specialist
BCBS of Texas	Blue Advantage Bronze 204 HMO	50%	$6000/ $17400	$9100/ $18200	$45/50%
BCBS of Texas	Blue Advantage Gold 706 HMO	25%	$2000/ $4000	$8700/ $17400	$30/$60
BCBS of Texas	Blue Advantage Gold 203 HMO	30%	$850/ $2550	$9100/ $18200	$20/$45
BCBS of Texas	Blue Advantage Silver 205 HMO	50%	$1500/ $4500	$7250/$14500	$15/50%
BCBS of Texas	Blue Advantage Silver 705 HMO	40%	$5700/ $11400	$7200/$14400	$30/$60
BCBS of Texas	Blue Advantage Silver 202 HMO	50%	$1500/ $4250	$7250/ $14500	$20/50%

 *While we only list Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas above, other options may be available.

BCBS of Texas – Other Benefits

All Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas plans have Virtual Visits at a copay on all tiers. They also offer Dental and Vision plans. These can be purchased separately through the BCBS website.

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

Whether you live in Kenedy, Orange, El Paso, or Dallas Counties, there is not much difference in the enrollment process. Everyone is bound by Affordable Care Act standards.

When – The Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment period starts on November 1^st and ends on December 31^st. Your coverage will begin on January 1^st. You can also enroll up until January 15^th. This late enrollment will give you a start date of February 1^st.

If you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP), you may enroll anytime during the year. You are eligible for a SEP when:

• There is a change in your household. – If you get married or divorced; add a family member through birth or adoption; or if there is a death in the family.
• You have a change of residence. – If you change zip codes when you move, this may require an insurance rate adjustment.
• There is a change in your health coverage. – If you lose your employer-sponsored health insurance or benefit plan through an alternative source, you can apply for ACA health insurance.

How – When you want to sign up for insurance, the easiest way is through the ACA Marketplace website. Signing up is simple. The website takes you through the sign-up process. When you complete your application, you know which plans are available to you and if you qualify for tax subsidies. If you are eligible, you can see how this will factor into the cost of your policy.

If you have questions about shopping for health insurance in Kenedy County, TX, contact CoverMile. We’re here to assist you in finding the best coverage for you and your family. We can guide you through the sign-up process.

How to Find Doctors Near Me in Kenedy County, TX

If you live in a small community like Kenedy County, a main concern you may have is seeing a doctor. Especially your doctor. Will they be covered under your new health insurance plan? It is easy to find doctors near you in Kenedy County. The best way is to visit your insurance provider’s website and search for the doctor’s name or the name of the facility they are part of. This will let you know if they are in or out of network.

Below is the link that will take you to the Blue Cross Blue Shield website. Their medical provider’s directory allows you to search by location, doctor’s name, and facility type.  

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.