Why does Texas have the most uninsured?

Asked by: Prof. Douglas Moore Jr.  |  Last update: September 20, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (31 votes)

Many Texas jobs don't offer insurance.
Seventy-one percent of the uninsured in Texas are part of a family that includes a full-time worker, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Put another way, 63 percent of uninsured, working-age Texans do have a job —just not an offer of insurance to go with it.

Why is the uninsured rate so high in Texas?

The most-cited reasons among uninsured Texans for not having health coverage is related to their employment status and the availability (or unavailability) of insurance through their employer.

Does Texas have the most uninsured people?

Texans make up 9% of the U.S. population, but 19% of the country's uninsured population. Texas has the worst uninsured rate by a big margin: Texas' 18% uninsured rate is 4.2 percentage points worse than Oklahoma's, the next-highest rate. The U.S. 2021 uninsured rate is 8.6%.

Where does Texas rank for uninsured?

Texas has both the highest number and the highest percentage of uninsured residents in the nation.

What percent of Texans are uninsured?

That's according to the Census Bureau's 2021 American Community Survey 1-year estimates. The census data, released this week, showed that 18% of Texans were uninsured in 2021.

VERIFY: Texas has the most uninsured people in America. That's crushing rural hospitals

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Where do most uninsured people live?

Reflecting geographic variation in income and the availability of public coverage, most uninsured people live in the South or West. In addition, most who are uninsured have been without coverage for long periods of time.

Is Texas the least insured state?

Texas is the uninsured capital of the United States. More than 4.3 million Texans - including 623,000 children - lack health insurance. Texas' uninsurance rates, 1.75 times the national average, create significant problems in the financing and delivery of health care to all Texans.

Is health insurance bad in Texas?

According to the survey, the Lone Star State ranked as the 8th worst state in the nation for healthcare, citing that Texas has the largest percentage of uninsured children and adults in the country. Here's how Texas ranked in key metrics (with 1 being the best and 51 being the worst): 18th – Avg.

Is Texas insurance high?

The average cost of car insurance in Texas is $2,019 per year for full coverage, which is just slightly higher than the national average of $2,014 per year. State minimum coverage in the Lone Star State is an average of $565 per year, which is less than the national average of $622 per year.

Is it illegal to be uninsured in Texas?

Driving without insurance in Texas is against the law, though, and the potential penalties include fines up to $1,000 and driver's license suspension.

How many drivers in Texas don't have insurance?

20% of Texas Drivers are Uninsured

Meaning there are over 3,000,000 individuals in the state of Texas driving with no insurance.

Is healthcare good in Texas?

The recently released “America's Health Rankings 2022 Annual Report” uncovered several health strengths and challenges in Texas. Texas is ranked 38th in the country for overall health – a decline from a ranking of 34 in 20191 – according to America's Health Rankings 2022 Annual Report.

Does Texas have the most uninsured children?

National Report: Texas Has Worst Uninsured Rate for Kids — But Pandemic-Era Medicaid Policy Helped - Every Texan.

Which two states have the highest uninsured rates?

Texas easily leads the country as the state with the greatest percentage of uninsured people at 18.4%. Oklahoma isn't too far behind at 14.3%, followed by Georgia at 13.4%.

Why are half of Texas 5 million uninsured passing on affordable health coverage?

In surveys by Texas 2036, 70% of the uninsured said they didn't know if they could get subsidies. The most-cited reasons for not getting coverage were related to being employed, not having company insurance or being ineligible for subsidies.

What is the problem with healthcare in Texas?

Texas has more uninsured people than any other state, whether you count in raw numbers (about 5.4 million) or in the uninsured percentage of the total population (18.4%). But it's one of only a dozen states that hasn't expanded its Medicaid program.

What state has best health insurance?

Hawaii is the top state for healthcare, according to U.S. News & World Report's annual best states rankings published May 2. The overall state ranking is based on 71 metrics across eight categories, including healthcare, education and economy.

Does Texas have insurance for low income?

Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide medical coverage for more than 4 million low-income Texans.

What happens in the state of Texas if you don't have insurance?

You're required to carry car insurance while driving in Texas. If you don't have auto insurance, you could get a fine of up to $1,000, your vehicle impounded for up to 180 days and your driving privileges suspended for up to two years.

What insurance is free in Texas?

Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide health coverage for low-income children, families, seniors and people with disabilities.

Can I self insure in Texas?

Certificate of self-insurance: The law allows individuals to self-insure, but in practice, this is only allowed for companies. When a company owns and has registered under its name 26 or more cars, it may apply to insure all of its vehicles, as opposed to purchasing a commercial auto policy.

What race is the most uninsured?

Coverage by Race and Ethnicity as of 2021

Nonelderly AIAN and Hispanic people had the highest uninsured rates at 21.2% and 19.0%, respectively as of 2021. Uninsured rates for nonelderly NHOPI and Black people (10.8 and 10.9%, respectively) also were higher than the rate for their White counterparts (7.2%).

What race is more likely to be uninsured?

Data from the Census Bureau shows that racial and ethnic disparities in health insurance coverage persist even among the most educated. People who identify as American Indian and Alaska Native, non-Hispanic or Hispanic, had the highest uninsured rates at all education levels.

Who is most likely to not have health insurance?

Age. Three-quarters of the uninsured are adults (ages 18–64 years), while one-quarter of the uninsured are children. Compared with other age groups, young adults are the most likely to go without coverage.