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In the state of Texas, there are a small percentage of residents that are physically or mentally challenged. Because of that, they have a hard time getting health insurance. Plus, there are additional issues that they face with getting health insurance in Texas. Some of the issues include costly insurance premiums, numerous policy cancellations, and numerous claims that don't get paid and refusing to have their policies renewed.
Everyone is entitled to the same rights under the law when it comes to health insurance in Texas. In fact, if anything, disabled people are and should be entitled to extra protection under the law. These people have the right to take legal action against any insurance carrier that has not treated them appropriately. Disabled people have every right to the same health benefits as everyone and in some cases even more so.
To be considered "disabled" under the law does not necessarily mean having zero functioning, for example a "legally blind" person may still have some sight, or a physically disabled person may be able to walk with the use of a walker. Being disabled generally means having an impaired ability to see, hear, walk or reason, as a few examples. Sadly, it is far too common for people who already face additional challenges in life because of their disability to also have to deal with discrimination, but when it comes to health insurance in Texas, a disabled person doesn't have to take it.
Sometimes a person with a disability will be labeled by the insurance company as having a "pre-existing medical condition" and may have to pay a higher premium for health insurance in Texas. Some people, however, feel that this is unjust and some have been successful in fighting this in court. Other insurance companies put limitations on what they will and will not cover for the disabled person and they may need to fight for their rights.
While some disabilities render an individual virtually impossible to insure, others have little, if any impact on the person seeking health insurance in Texas. Though they can have a significant affect on day-to-day life, vision and hearing losses are not deal breakers from an insurance standpoint.
In regard to health insurance in Texas, it is against state law to deny, limit or blatantly refuse to renew a health insurance policy due to the person's limited abilities. The exception to this is if the insurance company feels that the risk of underwriting the person may cause them to lose money. The disabled can also ask the company why you were turned down for an insurance policy.
To help combat the discrimination against people with disabilities, the federal government enacted the Americans with Disabilities Act. ADA regulations provide specific safeguards to prevent people with disabilities from experiencing discrimination in the areas of employment, health insurance and accessibility. Even with these guidelines and other progress made in the past ten years, the disabled are still not getting the equal treatment they deserve. Disabled people, like many other minority groups, must continue to fight for their rights regarding health insurance in Texas even as the laws change to help them further.
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