Grim report ranks Texas last in nation for children with health insurance
According to a new report from the Public News Service, 13 percent of Texas children went without health insurance in 2019, which is significantly higher than the national average of 6 percent. This puts Texas last in the nation for children’s health insurance coverage.
Approximately 1 million Texas kids were uninsured in 2019, based on data from the 2021 Kids Count Data Book produced by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The percentage is even higher for Hispanic children, who are uninsured at a rate of 17 percent.
The Kids Count index evaluates four domains, including: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community.
PUT ON COOL ATTIRE
Dress children and infants in loose, lightweight, and light-colored clothing.
HYDRATE. HYDRATE. HYDRATE.
Keep children hydrated, but stay away from drinks with too much sugar.
WATCH THE TEMPERATURES
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents to not have babies, toddlers, and small children outside for prolonged periods of time if the heat index is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
LIMIT SUN EXPOSURE
The American Academy of Pediatrics says to limit sun exposure as much as possible between the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They say that rule is extremely important for infants who can’t really sweat.
FIND SHADE
If you must be out during those peak ours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. look for shade to keep your baby cool and protected from the heat, the American Academy of Pediatrics says.
DON’T FORGET THE SUNSCREEN
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
WEAR A HAT AND SHADES
Make sure your child wears UV-blocking sunglasses to protect their eyes plus a wide hat helps to protect their ears, scalp, and neck, the American Academy of Pediatrics says.
KEEP A WATER BOTTLE HANDY
For a quick refresher, have a water readily available. You can also wet a towel and put on the back of the neck to cool your child’s body down.
Overall, in addition to poor health insurance ratings, Texas ranked 49th out of 50 states overall for overall children’s health, ahead only of Mississippi.
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Considering the impact of the pandemic on jobs and insurance, Amy Knop-Narbutis, a researcher and data director at nonprofit Every Texan, tells Public News Service that a March survey captured even worse numbers, with 23 percent of all Texas households without health insurance, a number that jumps to 38 percent for Hispanic households with children.
Leslie Boissiere, Every Texan’s vice president of external affairs, says Medicaid expansion is at the top of the list for improving health outcomes for children.
“One of the recommendations is to pass Medicaid expansion in those states that have not passed it already,” Boissiere tells the Public News Service. “And we’ve seen the states who have Medicaid expansion have a significantly lower number of children and families who are uninsured.”
Currently, Texas is one of 12 states to opt out of Medicaid expansion, which would ideally allow more lower income people to access affordable insurance. Though some low ranking states in the index, like New Mexico and Louisiana, have expanded Medicaid, states like Texas, Mississippi and Alabama have not.
According to the data, the only area where Texas outperformed a national average is in the percentage of high school students graduating on time. In 2019, where the 2021 survey data is collected from, only 10 percent of Texas students did not graduate on time in compared to 14 percent nationally.
