Even if you have health insurance, this problem can still adversely affect your health.

According to Cover Texas Now, Texas leads the nation in individuals with no health insurance. Not only are we the worst- we are nearly double the national average.

We also have double the national average of uninsured children, too.

Why Are Texas Uninsured Rates So Bad?

“Part of what is so deeply troubling about our state’s soaring uninsured rate is that it doesn’t have to be this way. It is directly tied to our Governor’s and legislature’s refusal to expand Medicaid,” said Trudy Taylor Smith, Senior Administrator of Policy and Advocacy at Children’s Defense Fund - Texas, a member of the Cover Texas Now coalition.

In other words, it's at least partially a political problem. Other barriers include a backlog in Texas Medicare applications (We need better technology to process them), people not being aware they are already eligible, and language barriers with some Medicare-eligible families.

Are Uninsured People Just Lazy?

Not at all. According to KFF, an independent health policy research source, nearly 75% of families with uninsured members have at least one person working full-time. Many jobs do not offer health insurance, or the premium costs make the coverage unattainable.

What Happens to Uninsured People?

They do not seek care they cannot afford, and do not get preventative care that can help nip problems before they become severe. In other words, they get sick and either get better on their own or die. Or go into crushing medical debt.

I'm Insured, Why Is This My Problem?

If you have no empathy for the uninsured, you still still advocate for expanded access, because it could affect your health as well. Hospitals must treat the uninsured (at least enough to stabilize them).

High uninsured rates contribute to rural hospital closures and greater financial challenges for rural hospitals, leaving individuals living in rural areas at an even greater disadvantage to accessing care.

So don't get very sick or severely injured in the country, even if you do have insurance- you might not have anywhere to go to get care. Additionally, any hospital will be left on the hook for uninsured patients- meaning they'll have fewer resources for everyone and/ or pass the bill on to you or your insurer.

In essence higher uninsured means higher premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs for those of us who do have insurance. 

And the higher number of uninsured in ERs means the insured have to wait longer- when the uninsured folks may have been able to get less sick with a regular doctor's visit sooner.

Expanded coverage is in every Texan's best interest. Here's hoping we see some solutions in 2023.