Uninsured and Access to Health Care Coverage

Reducing the number of uninsured Texans is the Texas Hospital Association’s top priority for 2007-08. With one in four Texans lacking coverage, the state has the highest rate of uninsured in the nation. That’s not something to brag about. THA and other stakeholders – businesses, insurers, health care providers and voters – agree action is needed now to make health insurance more affordable and accessible.

Even families who have health insurance coverage are hurt by the growing number of uninsured. Access to health care is compromised for everyone. The uninsured contribute to the overcrowding in hospital emergency departments because they cannot access primary and preventive care.

Those with coverage pay more for health care – and for insurance premiums – to help offset providers’ losses on those with no coverage. Texas families pay about $1,551 more for premiums due to the cost of caring for uninsured patients. And, as the cost of insurance increases, more employers drop coverage, which leads to more uninsured Texans.

The vast majority of the uninsured are workers or their dependents. Many of the uninsured work for small employers or are self-employed – and they cannot afford health insurance premiums.

These resources provide more information about the growing problem of the uninsured and THA’s principles to guide fundamental change:

• Fact Sheet
• Why You Should Care
• THA’s Guiding Principles for Health Care Reform