The new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau this week underscore that if we're going to support healthy infants and toddlers, we need state policies that ensure more Texans have health insurance.
The Census report shows that in 2019 Texas had the highest children's uninsured rate in the nation at 12.7%, considerably worse than the second highest state — Wyoming with 10.6%. It also shows that the children's uninsured rate for Texas got worse in 2019 compared to 11.2% in 2018.
The high uninsured rate among Texas adults is also very concerning, in part because it makes it harder for Texas moms to have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies and manage postpartum challenges such as maternal depression.The Census numbers show that Texas has by far the worst all-ages uninsured rate in nation at 18.4%, followed by Oklahoma at 14.3%. The Texas uninsured rate for all ages got worse last year, rising from 17.7% in 2018.
It's important to note that these grim numbers actually understate the problem since they don't include the estimated 659,000 Texans who became uninsured during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Previous research has shown that Texas has very high uninsured rates among every racial/ethnic group in the state and in communities in every region of the state.
Texas also has significant racial disparities when it comes to health coverage. Uninsured rates are particularly elevated in Texas among Black and Hispanic adults and among Native American and Hispanic children.
In other words, efforts to reduce the Texas uninsured rate would improve health coverage for Texans of ALL backgrounds while also addressing racial inequities.
The high Texas uninsured rate is a direct result of state policy decisions — and there are several steps the Legislature and other state leaders can take to reduce the uninsured rate:
Stop the state cuts that are currently under consideration for staff positions that enroll Texans in Medicaid for Pregnant Women, Children's Medicaid, CHIP, and other programs.
Improve outreach to families regarding children's health insurance options.
Allow children to maintain their Medicaid insurance for a full 12 months rather than conducting error-prone mid-year eligibility reviews that mistakenly remove eligible children from health coverage.
Extend Medicaid insurance for new moms so that it ends 12 months after childbirth rather than 2 months.
Accept federal Medicaid expansion funding to offer insurance to child care educators, grocery store clerks, and other workers who typically have no insurance options in Texas if they are below the poverty line.
We look forward to working with you and state leaders to move forward with these policy recommendations and ensure more Texas kids grow up healthy.