Every month $100 of your payment is distributed to your personal health saving account. This money is immediately available to you to pay routine medical bills.

The remainder of the payment is kept in reserve in a trust to pay the larger bills.  Any money remaining in your health savings account at the end of the year belongs to you and not Houston Healthcare Initiative. It will accumulate with interest until such time as it is used.

Monies in the trust belong to Houston Healthcare Initiative.

If excess funds accumulate in the trust, they will be kept in individual subscriber savings accounts and will be used to lower monthly payments or will be distributed to members in cash as decided by the Board of Trustees.

If funds are depleted in the trust, we may need to ask for additional monthly payments from our members.

We rely on our members to try to maintain health so that funds will be available in a time of need.

When you visit a physician, you will be using your debit card from your health savings account or paying cash. Consequently, you should shop in advance to find a family physician who delivers the best value in terms of convenience, service, quality and price.

You can negotiate! You can share information about physicians on our website or consult the free doctor hotline for advice.

Prices for lab tests, imaging, and procedures are also on our website. You are free to shop as well and share what you learn.

If you need to visit a hospital or Emergency Room, show your membership card from the Houston Healthcare Initiative. Information on the card will direct the hospital to send the bills to us. Once we receive the bill, we will determine eligibility for payment and apply discounts.

Money will be transferred from our trust fund to your health savings account so that you may pay the bill.