GoHealth will be taking a close look at health insurance rates across the country to help consumers understand the cost of health insurance in their area compared to states across the nation. Texas is the first stop.
The cost of living in an area can directly impact the cost of health insurance. How does this work? If health care providers in a city have expensive real estate and daily operational expenses, then those costs are passed on to the consumer. In the suburbs, rent may be more affordable and reduce the operating expenses for a hospital or doctor’s office which can help keep the cost of care down. Overall, there are many factors that directly impact the costs of health care and insurance in a state or city.
Texas has a little higher cost of living compared to the national average, which is also seen with health insurance costs. When compared to the national average, Texas health insurance premiums are higher for 30, 40, 50 and 60 year old males.
When looking at health insurance premiums across Texas, rates vary based on the city. Six of the ten largest cities in Texas have lower than average cost of living than the state of Texas including San Antonio, Fort Worth, El Paso, Arlington, Corpus Christi and Laredo. Houston, Dallas, Austin and Plano have higher than average cost of living than the state of Texas.