Texas the paradox: High number of employed, high number of uninsured
Dallas, Texas (AmericanInjuryNews.com – News Report) – How is it possible in a country such as America, that there are such extremely high levels of uninsured people? As one of the 6 million of uninsured Texan residents, Josh Hebert ponders this question, as his six-year-old daughter has never received care for the frequent brain lesions she experiences.
In attempt to help his daughter, he asked his employer for a pay cut because the income he made exceeded the limits required by the Children’s Health Insurance Program by a mere $260 a month. His request went unanswered; and his daughter remains untreated. According to the Census Bureau, the number of Texans receiving health insurance through their jobs dropped to 11.9 million last year, from 12.1 million the year before. The result- Texas is now the state with the highest percentage of residents and children without health insurance at overall rates of 25.2% and 20.2% respectively.
Even though people such as Josh Hebert are working extremely hard, they are not receiving health insurance. Even more distressing, the national numbers of those without insurance fell from 47 million to 45.7 million in 2006. In 2004 and 2005, Texas held a 23.9% rate of uninsured individuals; this percentage was increased to 24.8% in 2006 and 2007.
The figures mentioned do not even include the 149,000 children enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These statistics explain why the Northeast Texas Public Health District officials pledge to register about 200 children per month for the children’s health care insurance program or Medicaid.’ Also a significant benefit is the city’s plan to require its contractors to provide insurance to their employees or pay into a city fund to make it a little easier on the uninsured. Yet, it is far from perfect, and even further from fair - as exemplified by the Hebert case. It is inconceivable that a hard-working man cannot obtain the proper care for his daughter, but those who are not working, sometimes not even trying, are eligible for care. Even though Mr. Hebert was offered health insurance at his job, the premiums would have taken up 30% of his take-home pay, and the proposed policy would not cover many of the special (and expensive) treatments that his daughter requires. When will our country wakeup and make health care affordable for those who are working so hard for their families and realize that it is in the best interest of all citizens that our children can fulfill their future potential?
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