AUSTIN- Beginning April 1, 2008, all discount health care card providers
wanting to conduct
business in Texas were required to be licensed by the Texas Department of
Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Currently thirty-four (34) companies meet
state requirements and are legally acting as discount health care providers.
Prime Discount Card, located in Brentwood, Tennessee, advertised a discount
health care
program on their internet web site but did not hold a certificate of
registration to conduct business which is issued by the Texas Department of
Licensing and Regulation. The
advertisement is evidence the company was functioning as a healthcare
program operator,
therefore the company was cited a violation and received an administrative
penalty of $6,000.
National Health Partners, Inc., of Horsham, Pennsylvania, advertised on an
internet web site to provide, for a monthly fee, membership with access to
discounts for Texas healthcare providers who agreed in advance to honor the
CAREexpress membership card and accept discounted fees. National Health
Partners, Inc. did not hold a certificate of registration issued by the
Department. Violation of the law resulted in a $1,500 fine.
TDLR received authority to regulate the discount health care card industry
from the 80th Texas Legislature which created the "Discount Health Care
Programs Act" in 2007. Discount Health Care Cards are NOT health insurance.
They are non-insurance plans that offer consumers access to health care
services at discount rates. Before purchasing the plan consumers are
encouraged to confirm the company is licensed with the Texas Department of
Licensing and
Regulation. To review a list of the companies visit
http://www.license.state.tx.us/LicenseSearch.
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