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.