HEALTH INSURANCE, POLITICAL OR MORAL?

The federal government’s latest National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (NHQDR) gives the Lone Star State some poor grades. Overall, Texas ranks fourth from the bottom, across all measures, ahead of only New Mexico, Nevada, and Alaska. In addition, Texas also does the worst job in the nation at caring for Hispanics and manages only somewhat better with African Americans. Even the rich are affected. In the report, Texas ranks 41st in healthcare for high-income folks.

The state of Texas is home to 4.5 million people without health insurance. In fact, Texas now has more uninsured people than California, based on U.S. Census data released in September, despite the fact California has nearly 40 million residents compared to 28 million in Texas. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) made a difference, bringing coverage to 1.2 million Texans and pushing the percentage of uninsured down from 22 percent in 2013 to 16 percent today. Most of those newly insured Texans bought a plan through the ACA or directly from an insurer, although the state did little to encourage them.

“Texas opted not to create an in-person assistance program and passed laws that effectively limited the ability of community organizations to help consumers enroll,” writes Dr. Benjamin D. Sommers, assistant professor of health policy and economics at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health in Massachusetts. Furthermore, Texas was one of the states that did not take advantage of the federal government’s subsidy for the ACA Medicaid expansion which would have provided health insurance to the poor; thus, Texas still has the highest uninsured rate in the nation. Eighteen percent of Texans, that is 1.2 million people in Texas have no health insurance.

According to the World Atlas, surveys of the religious orientation of Texas citizens reveal that some 64.4 percent are classified as Evangelicals, 21.2 percent are Catholic and 8.1 percent represent Mainline Protestants translating into a total of 93.7 percent who can be identified as “Christians.” Even a cursory look at the New Testament reveals a Jesus who had compassion for the sick. In addition, Matthew 25:31-46 attests to Jesus’ concern for the “least of these.”

The question is, “why can’t nearly 94 percent of the state’s citizens get legislation passed such as the ACA Medicaid expansion, that would greatly assist the budgets, health, and quality of life for the poorest Texans?” Part of the answer to that question may be that a majority of Texans see the ACA as merely and solely a “political” issue and not as a “moral” issue.

Even more puzzling is the fact that Texas ranks second in the nation with the highest GDP, behind only California. By any measure or standard, Texas is not a poor state or one that is historically strapped for cash.

A study done by Harvard University indicates that the leading cause of bankruptcy is due to medical expenses. These expenses account for a whopping 62 percent of all reported personal bankruptcies.. Clearly, an individual or family’s not possessing health insurance would mean a higher rate of poverty.

The author of Proverbs has words that are particularly relevant to this issue:

“Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of all who are helpless. Speak for them and be a righteous judge. Protect the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9

This political issue is a MORAL issue.