27 Village Medical Houston clinics will join Harbor to become "hospitals of care" for the Harbor insurance plans; these plans do not have deductibles. Individual and family insurance enrollments will be open on November 1st, and the company also offers large employer plans in Texas.
Houston, October 6th / PRNewswire / -- Harbor Health, a group of primary and specialty medical clinics and health insurance companies headquartered in Texas, announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire 27 Village Medical clinics in the Greater Houston area. This network has a strong foundation and a long history in the local community. With this acquisition, Harbor enters the largest city in Texas, and just a few weeks later, Harbor's personal and family insurance plans will be available to Houston residents for the first time.
Houston will become the fifth market in Texas where Harbor provides both medical services and insurance coverage, with the other four markets being Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and El Paso. Harbor indicates that the transaction is expected to be completed by the end of this year; upon completion, the company will operate nearly 70 clinics in Texas, and the number of doctors and senior practitioners will more than double. Financial terms have not been disclosed.
Harbor Health, co-founder and CEO, and Tony Miller stated: "We founded Harbor because we believe that people deserve a better healthcare system, and at the core of that system is a company that is responsible for maintaining your health. The clinicians at Village Medical Houston have been changing the way healthcare is practiced for many years. When we set out to create the best payvider in Texas, Houston has always been at the center of our efforts. Today, the people of Houston now have a new company that not only provides healthcare but also covers the costs of that care, and is responsible for both."
A company that provides both medical services and pays for medical expenses
Members who choose the Harbor program in Houston will have Village Medical Houston as their primary care "medical home," with clinic services covering Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, and Brazoria counties. This is a starting point for a guided health journey. The Harbor program has no deductible; when members first seek treatment from a Harbor clinician and that clinician refers them to a specialist, the cost of the referred medical services is $0. Since healthcare and insurance are designed together, members do not need to decide for themselves which services are covered or where to go for further treatment.
Large employers' plans are currently available in 29 counties of Texas, including Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, and Brazoria counties in the Greater Houston area. Harbor states that these 29 counties together are home to over 22 million Texans. Individual and family plans will be offered through HealthCare.gov starting in 2027, and enrollment will be open in 13 of these 29 counties beginning November 1st, with coverage taking effect from January 1st. Families and employers in Texas can learn more about the Harbor plan information at harborhealth.com.
Harbor Health, co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. Clay Johnston stated: "It is crucial to make healthcare more affordable, which means we need insurance that allows people to invest in their health. When the people responsible for someone's health also help to determine what medical services will be covered and when they will be paid for, it becomes easier for people to access the medical care that we know is effective, and to avoid waste."
What does this mean for Village Medical Houston?
The Village Medical Houston clinics acquired by Harbor will join Harbor Health Insurance Company's supplier network and will continue to operate under the name of Village Medical. Consumers who are currently receiving treatment at these clinics do not need to take any action, and these clinics will also continue to accept the insurance plans they currently have.
Harbor Health, President and Chief Operating Officer, stated: "I grew up in Houston and have worked at Village Medical for nearly three years, so I know many of the clinicians and nursing teams there, as well as the quality of care they provide. Harbor is built around clinicians, and joining this team makes us stronger. We welcome everyone who joins us; we are delighted to build together with you."
To brokers and employers in Houston
The large employer program is currently open to employers in the Houston area, and individual and family insurance enrollment will begin on November 1st. Brokers who wish to sell the Harbor program in Houston should complete the Harbor appointment before November 1st. For more information, please visit https :// harborhealth.com / partner / broker, or contact the broker relations team: [ email protected ], at 844-504-1100.
About Harbor Health
Harbor Health is a medical company headquartered in Texas, focusing on healthcare as its core. Harbor operates its own primary and specialty clinics in Texas and builds health insurance around the medical services designed by its clinicians, allowing healthcare and insurance to function as a cohesive whole. The healthcare system often requires people to start from scratch, but the establishment of Harbor is aimed at preventing this from happening. For more information, please visit harborhealth.com.
