STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Help has arrived for those looking for health insurance.

With one in four Texans living without insurance, the Texas Department of Insurance has developed a Web site, http://www.texashealthoptions.com/, to help navigate the health insurance purchasing process. The Web site offers a glossary of health terms and detailed information about the purchasing process and what to do once you have coverage.

“Health insurance coverage is crucial to protecting yourself in case of a medical emergency,” said Dr. Jeffrey Moore, a physician on the medical staff at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville. “The prices may seem steep at first glance, but a lengthy hospitalization, illness or surgery can devastate a family’s financial future. Unfortunately for too many Texans that possibility becomes a reality.”

To avoid the worry of the consequences from an unexpected illness or accident, perhaps the simplest thing to do is your homework. Researching plans well in the beginning can pay off well in the long-run. Hiring an insurance broker also can help. The insurance department’s web site offers links to plans and calculators to help make decisions.

For more information, visit http://www.texashealthoptions.com/.

About Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville is a 98-bed acute care, full-service facility serving Erath and surrounding counties since 1926. The hospital's services include inpatient and outpatient surgery, women and infant care, advanced diagnostic imaging, inpatient and outpatient physical therapy and wound care. Texas Health Stephenville has been recognized as a Nurse-Friendly Hospital and a Level IV Trauma Center. For more information, please call 1-877-THR-WELL.

About Texas Health Resources
Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health care delivery systems in the United States and the largest in North Texas in terms of patients served. Texas Health’s system of 13 hospitals includes Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospitals, Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospitals, and a medical research organization. Texas Health is a corporate member or partner in six additional hospitals and surgery centers. For more information about Texas Health, visit www.texashealth.org.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.