Texicare and TempoPay Partner to Enhance Healthcare Affordability for Texas Small Businesses

In a move set to transform healthcare accessibility for small businesses in Texas, Texicare, the health affiliate of Texas Mutual, has announced a partnership with TempoPay, a flexible payment solution provider. This collaboration will enable employees of small business groups enrolled in Texicare health plans to access TempoPay's services, offering a new way to manage everyday healthcare expenses.

TempoPay, a subsidiary of HPS/PayMedix, provides a unique financial tool that allows employees to pay their healthcare bills over time without incurring interest, fees, or credit checks. The TempoPay Visa® card can be used for a wide range of health-related expenses, including medical care, prescriptions, vision and dental bills, and other wellness-related costs not covered by employees' plans.

Under this partnership, Texicare members can now access up to $1,500 in interest-free financing through TempoPay at any time, with the flexibility to choose their own repayment terms. This integration into the health plan aims to help members manage their out-of-pocket expenses more effectively, ensuring that health care and well-being remain within household budgets.

Meredith Duncan, CEO of Texicare, emphasized the importance of this partnership in addressing a significant barrier to healthcare access. "For many Texans, out-of-pocket expenses are a barrier to getting needed care," Duncan stated. "That's why we're partnering with TempoPay—to make health care more accessible for all our members so they can focus first and foremost on their well-being and manage their out-of-pocket costs in a way that works for them."

This collaboration aligns with Texicare's mission to change the healthcare ecosystem by providing small businesses with innovative solutions that increase access to high-quality care. Texicare's health plans are designed with a focus on the employee experience, aiming to be user-friendly and centered on the holistic well-being of employees and their families.

Erika Davison-Aviles, Co-founder of TempoPay, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "TempoPay is a perfect fit for Texas employers who can now offer their employees a flexible way to pay for their health care expenses, and we are proud to be partnering with Texicare." She added that this collaboration accelerates TempoPay's mission to help hardworking people and their families access care when they need it, making healthcare accessible for all.

The implications of this partnership are significant for the Texas healthcare landscape, particularly for small businesses and their employees. By removing financial barriers to healthcare access, this initiative has the potential to improve overall health outcomes for Texans. It addresses a critical gap in the healthcare system where high out-of-pocket costs often deter individuals from seeking necessary medical care.

Furthermore, this partnership could set a precedent for other states and healthcare providers, potentially leading to similar initiatives across the country. As healthcare costs continue to rise, innovative financial solutions like TempoPay integrated with health plans could become increasingly important in ensuring widespread access to medical care.

For small businesses in Texas, this partnership offers a competitive advantage in employee benefits packages. The ability to provide flexible healthcare financing options could aid in employee retention and attraction, particularly in a tight labor market where benefits play a crucial role in job decisions.

As this partnership rolls out, it will be important to monitor its impact on healthcare utilization rates among Texicare members, as well as any improvements in health outcomes or reductions in delayed care due to financial constraints. The success of this initiative could pave the way for broader changes in how healthcare financing is approached, potentially influencing policy decisions and industry practices in the future.