The window of opportunity for taking advantage of the Affordable Care Act’s annual open enrollment period is about to close. In order to obtain health insurance coverage effective March 1, 2017, you must sign up starting January 16th and no later than the January 31st deadline.

Why did you join the TMA? Many physicians become members because the Texas Medical Association represents the interests of physicians in state and federal legislation. Some physicians join to take advantage of the professional networking opportunities. Still others see the value in joining for the exceptional medical liability insurance through the Texas Medical Liability Trust (TMLT). We agree that these are all excellent reasons to join the TMA.

The season of open enrollment brings a great deal of stress for some. Though most physicians have secured coverage for the coming year and will be experiencing no lapse in coverage, there are some who did not obtain health insurance by the December 15 deadline. This means that beginning January 1, they will have an interruption in health coverage. However, open enrollment does not end until January 31, and there is still time to obtain coverage, whether it is for the physician, their family, or their practice staff.

Providing your medical staff with health insurance benefits is becoming increasingly expensive. Because of this cost, some business owners have made the uncomfortable choice to not offer health benefits to their employees. In a medical practice, however, the choice to not offer health coverage comes with hidden costs.

Limited choices and skyrocketing health-care premiums have left you few options for providing quality health coverage for the people you care about. Fewer carriers are offering HMOs in the Texas marketplace, and the plans offered may be as much as 40% more costly for individuals and families, while PPO plans preferred by physicians have almost disappeared from the marketplace.

The market for health insurance in Texas and across the country has become increasingly complex, and this year is certainly no exception. The newspaper headlines are concerning. From the Texas Tribune: Health Insurers' Exit Spells Trouble for Obamacare in Texas. From Dallas News: Seven More Texas Counties Could See Just One Obamacare Option in 2017. Carriers for personal plans have all but left the state, and the plans that are left carry greatly increased premiums. These changes affect all TMA members who shop for coverage, whether for themselves, their families or their practice staff.

In just a matter of days, it will be November 1st, the beginning of Open Enrollment for health insurance for members and their families, as well as practice staff. For many physicians, this is a time of frustration, but TMA Insurance Trust is here to make it easier.

Liz West is an experienced advisor on health insurance under the Affordable Care Act here at TMA Insurance Trust. She has worked here for nearly three decades, so she understands the marketplace and the particular needs of physicians in our state.

As the date for open enrollment nears, we sit down with Liz to discuss the health insurance marketplace and solutions to some of the issues our members are facing.