Introduction
Despite the many problems that Texans have to deal with every day, the health insurance predicament is one that never subsides. For the fourteenth year in a row, Texas has the highest number of uninsured citizens at 23 percent (Grubbs & Wright, 2020). In addition, Texas has one of the poorest healthcare systems in the United States. While the quality of healthcare is a contentious subject across the country, it should be of particularly high priority for the state government in Texas. This research will examine how the state of Texas tackles the healthcare problem by analyzing the policies they back and the overall availability of healthcare in the state. Medical treatment in Texas is the most difficult to obtain in any of the 50 states. Using a variety of policies and laws, the Texas government is working to improve healthcare for its citizens. Lack of insurance coverage is the main factor preventing many Texans from accessing quality healthcare services.
Texas Healthcare
Texas’ large uninsured population has plagued the state’s healthcare system. A whopping 4.4 million Texans do not have health insurance, making the state’s uninsured rate nearly twice that of the rest of the country (Kliff, 2020). Texas government is largely to blame for the high rate of uninsured Texans since it chose not to expand Medicaid in accordance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Texas administration is strongly against the ACA and has even tried to sue the federal government over its constitutionality (Ercia, 2021). Many Texans who rely on the program now lack access to health coverage due to the state government’s opposition to Medicaid expansion (Ercia, 2021). The poor Texans under Medicaid would be left without affordable health coverage if the program were not expanded. People without health insurance are more likely to visit the hospital in critical conditions, increasing the waiting time for those requiring immediate attention.
People who do not have access to affordable health care include those who cannot afford private health insurance and individuals employed by small businesses that do not provide health insurance to their employees. They also encompass people who are qualified for but do not participate in government-funded programs (Kliff, 2020). Texas ranks first in the US for the percentage of residents not covered by any health insurance plan, meaning that Texans are the least likely to have access to such coverage. Underprivileged folks, young adults, Hispanics, part-time employees, and persons with chronic diseases are typical examples of uninsured Texans.
The high cost of health insurance coverage is a major factor in explaining why so many Texans go without it. Texas has allocated a significant portion of its budget toward healthcare, spending $29 billion out of $43 billion in total (Grubbs & Wright, 2020). Insurance costs are cited as the primary reason for the state of Texas’ high uninsured proportion of 70% of the population (Grubbs & Wright, 2020). Obtaining health insurance is crucial because it protects individuals from the financial burden of emergency medical care should a serious illness or injury occur. Texans with health insurance are less likely to get sick and suffer financial problems than those without a medical policy. As a result, the fact that Texas has the highest percentage of uninsured residents in the United States is quite concerning. People without health insurance are more likely to forego necessary medical care and are more likely to face financial hardships.
Texas Administration
Making and enforcing policies that govern Texas’ healthcare system falls under the purview of healthcare policymakers. Medical professionals provide healthcare services to detect, care for, treat, and stop the spread of disease and injury in the human body. Insurance, drugs, and healthcare information technology are just a few ancillary industries that are a part of the entire system. Since the 1950s, health insurance for people has typically come from their employers (Grubbs & Wright, 2020). One reason is that business contributions to employee health insurance plans are not subject to federal income tax. The federal government funds Medicare for people with disabilities and the elderly, while federal and state governments together offer Medicaid for low-income persons. Texas has the highest number of citizens insured via their employers, 46%, compared to its neighboring states (Grubbs & Wright, 2020). The percentage of residents enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare is the lowest. The proportion of uninsured Texans is higher than in any of its bordering states or the rest of the country.
Each year, the government of Texas makes several decisions about its health insurance policy that may affect the well-being of its citizens. These decisions concern the cost of insurance, the quality of health coverage, and the availability of policies. The state government of Texas is confronted with a variety of health insurance-related challenges, such as the high proportion of Texans who lack coverage, the cost of insurance continuing to rise, and a lack of available medical facilities. Health care in Texas is a contentious issue, and the state government has attempted to handle it through legislation and judicial rulings that outline the administration’s position on the matter (Marissa, 2018). Since teachers’ incomes are insufficient to cover the more expensive medical coverage initially in place, the Texas government took an interest in ensuring teachers had access to cheaper health insurance by passing HB21. In addition to ensuring that Texans have access to the greatest teachers possible, the improved insurance provisions in this bill have made working in Texas schools more appealing to educators.
A hospital visitor who fell and hurt herself was the plaintiff in the court case Reddic v. East Texas Med. Since Reddic’s claim involved medical services, the hospital insisted on taking legal action, citing the Texas Medical Liability Act as the applicable legal framework. Due to the lack of proper safety procedures, the court held the hospital responsible for the victim’s injuries. This demonstrates that Texas hospitals and other medical centers are held accountable for any avoidable harm they inflict on patients (Ercia, 2021). In this way, injured people can acquire the necessary medical coverage when it is not their responsibility to sustain that harm.
Another case involving a nursing facility and an employee is PHCC-La Hacienda Rehabilitation & Health Care Center LLC v. Crume. The nursing home worker reported an injury while repairing a microwave and the facility countered that the employee did not adhere to proper safety procedures. The court determined that the nursing home was responsible for the accident since the microwave was not necessary for the daily operations of the facility. Texas is taking action to ensure that injured people are fairly compensated and responsible businesses are held accountable (Marissa, 2018). Without government intervention, victims of corporate wrongdoing would be forced to pay medical costs not covered by their insurance policies. Patients in Texas are affected by the state government’s many annual choices, so legislators can make effective changes to improve access to healthcare.
Opinion
When compared to other sectors in Texas, healthcare transparency lags far behind. Many consumers still have no idea which medical cover they require, despite widespread improvements in accessibility to breakthroughs and technologies and the quality of management of healthcare professionals. Costs have shifted, and as a result, regular Texans’ daily routines have changed. A trip to the doctor for something as simple as a checkup can quickly become a financially challenging ordeal. When the subject of child insurance comes up, things grow more complicated (Salahuddin et al., 2022). It would be a great way for the government to show it cares about its citizens and understands their needs if it established dedicated platforms or programs where individuals could voice their opinions, propose solutions, and clarify their goals and objectives. Change may result from the participation of citizens in social dialogues. Furthermore, the government should educate its citizens on the relationship between healthcare quality and access, medical funding, employment, and taxation.
People have clashing views on health care, frequently taking the side of the political party with which they identify. In light of the senate’s failure to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the administration is now attempting to stabilize the healthcare market. Healthcare reforms in Texas require leadership from the city of Austin. Since several states have already extended Medicaid and seen improvements in health insurance, Austin should consider doing so. Without really trying, Austin has wasted a billion dollars in potential federal funding. People wishing to launch their medical facilities are required to secure health supervision and invest significant capital. Despite widespread opposition, many Texans would suffer if Obamacare were repealed (Kliff, 2020). Legislators can create improvements to healthcare, whereas Congress can only abrogate.
Texans who cannot make health-related decisions should defer to those who do. Legislators need to decide how to enhance healthcare, as Congress cannot do so (Ercia, 2021). Many skilled medical professionals cannot realize their full potential due to the rigorous regulations necessary to open a clinic in Texas. Since accessing health care is a major issue for Texans, the state legislature should pass bills that eliminate certain criteria. Many families have a long way to travel to a hospital that can treat their medical issues for lack of a sufficiently equipped one in their area. More money should be allocated to hospitals, which would greatly improve access and lessen the burden of care for many underprivileged families.
People often overpay for health insurance because they are unaware of which company offers the best coverage at the lowest price. Healthcare policy prices could be advertised more clearly so that buyers can make educated choices. Increasing competition among healthcare insurance providers is another strategy for reducing medical costs. A lack of competition among insurance providers allows them to charge whatever they choose, limiting the ability of low-income people to get the medical care they need. Patients would benefit from increased competition because they would have easier access to high-quality care at lower rates. Companies should not determine their medicine pricing without the federal government negotiating these costs (Kaplan et al., 2022). The government might also improve people’s access to care by educating them about electoral candidates and urging them to vote for those with medical service improvement strategies as one of their core objectives if elected.
A nation or organization’s healthcare system is crucial in caring for its sick citizens, both physically and mentally. The Texas government has a responsibility to ensure citizens have access to healthcare. Providing a refundable tax credit to individuals and families in Texas that can be used only for the purchase of health insurance would be a great step in the right direction toward better healthcare in the Lone Star State. The fee-for-service paradigm, which places more value on the quantity than the quality of care provided, should be replaced if healthcare in Texas is to improve (Salahuddin et al., 2022). Taking such measures would make it possible for the government to establish creative, cost-effective medical solutions.
Conclusion
Citizens’ general health may be impacted by healthcare policy decisions affecting more than their out-of-pocket healthcare costs. The increasing cost of healthcare is a leading concern for policymakers because it has put a significant dent in both consumer spending and governmental finances. Many Texans lack access to adequate medical care due primarily to their inability to afford health insurance. After considering the sources in the essay, the thesis statement is reinforced. There is a long way to go before the health insurance system in Texas, which ranks at the bottom of all fifty states, is improved for its citizens. There are no simple or quick answers to the problem of affordable healthcare coverage. It will take an effort from all stakeholders to reach an agreement that will help the people of Texas. The exorbitant cost of health insurance is the most significant issue with the existing healthcare system. Access to health care for the people of Texas should be a critical issue for the state’s lawmakers.
References
Ercia, A. (2021). The impact of the Affordable Care Act on patient coverage and access to care: Perspectives from FQHC administrators in Arizona, California and Texas. BMC Health Services Research, 21(1), 1-9. Web.
Grubbs, S., & Wright, B. (2020). Uninsured Texans. Comptoller.Texas.Gov. Web.
Kaplan, J., Centeno, F. H., Hayon, J., Bottazzi, M. E., Hotez, P. J., Weatherhead, J. E., Clark, E., & Woc-Colburn, L. (2022). Reviewing a decade of outpatient tropical medicine in Houston, Texas. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 106(4), 1049-1056. Web.
Kliff, S. (2020). What Texas would look like without Obamacare. The New York Times. Web.
Marissa, E. (2018). Poll: Texans say legislators need to make health care a priority. The Texas Tribune. Web.
Salahuddin, M., Matthews, K. J., Elerian, N., Ramsey, P. S., Lakey, D. L., & Patel, D. A. (2022). Health burden and service utilization in Texas Medicaid deliveries from the prenatal period to 1 year postpartum. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 26(5), 1168-1179. Web.