Small Town News

Legislature Transfers Discount Healthcare Card Program

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AUSTIN--Beginning April 1, 2010, over two and a half million discount health care card carrying Texans will turn to the Texas Department of Insurance for information and assistance concerning discount health care card companies.

The 81st Texas Legislature passed House Bill 4341, which transfers the regulation of discount healthcare card operators from the Texas

Department of Licensing and Regulation to the Texas Department of Insurance. The transfer will be phased-in beginning September 1, 2009, and completed April 1, 2010. Timelines for the transfer of specific responsibilities will be posted and updated on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation's website. Over 45 million Americans are uninsured and discount healthcare cards, although NOT health insurance, provide discounts on services through providers contracted with the discount healthcare card company. Texas is one of 20 states that oversee discount healthcare card companies, also called discount medical plan organizations (DMPO) in the other states.

For information or assistance please visit www.license.state.tx.us/dh cc.



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© 2009 Edgewood Enterprise Edgewood, New Mexico. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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