Texas again leads the nation in the rate of uninsured. More than 25 percent of the state's population under age 65 – 5,771,479 people – has no health insurance coverage, according to recent Census Bureau data. In 24 Texas counties, a third or more of residents are uninsured.

Many of the uninsured are working adults whose employers do not offer insurance coverage or for whom the cost of coverage is prohibitive, according to the Texas Hospital Association.

The Texas Hospital Association said that the health care needs of the uninsured do not go away simply because they lack health insurance. The cost of providing care to these 5.7 million people is borne by hospitals, taxpayers, and the privately insured:

• Hospitals are providing $5.5 billion in uncompensated care each year.
• Premium costs for private insurance are $1,800 higher, on average, due to uncompensated care for the uninsured.
• Local government expenditures, financed by tax dollars, for indigent health care services currently exceed $1 billion.

Dan Stultz, M.D., FACP, FACHE, chief executive officer of the Texas Hospital Association, said that the Texas Hospital Association, “continues to advocate for the state to accept new federal funds to expand Medicaid as the most effective tool for reducing the number of uninsured and the associated costs for Texas hospitals, taxpayers, and businesses.”