After meeting with families and job creators in Fort Worth, Gov. Greg Abbott announced what he called the next phase of his Keep Texas Affordable agenda, unveiling a new initiative aimed at lowering health insurance premiums and expanding access to affordable coverage.<\/p>\n
Small businesses want to provide their employees with health insurance, but are facing skyrocketing premiums,\u201d Abbott said. \u201cThis new Essential Benefits Health Insurance plan will allow Texans to get health insurance and cover all the essentials without paying for expensive additional mandates imposed by the state. By lowering the cost of health insurance for families and small businesses, we are going to make Texas one of the most affordable states in the United States of America.<\/p>\n
Abbott\u2019s Essential Benefits Health Insurance plan would allow employers to offer a new health insurance option focused on essential health care needs without what the announcement described as costly state mandates. <\/p>\n
The plan would be \u201cfree from unnecessary mandates\u201d and is projected to reduce insurance premiums by nearly 20%, saving Texas families up to $1,145 a year and small businesses more than $3,400 per year.<\/p>\n
Abbott said the proposal builds on other parts of his Keep Texas Affordable agenda, including a five-point property tax plan, a freeze on tuition and fees at Texas public colleges and universities, the Texas roof fortification program, and a policy to reward safe drivers with lower premiums.<\/p>\n
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