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U.S. gender wage gap grows for first time in a decade; Trump has embraced NC's Mark Robinson, calling him 'Martin Luther King on steroids'; Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN; Women's political contributions in congressional races fall short of men's.

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Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Health Insurance Options for Texans Hit by COVID-19 Job Loss

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Wednesday, May 6, 2020   

AUSTIN, Texas -- The combination of COVID-19 job loss and employer-provided health insurance is hitting Texas families hard, but many are eligible for health coverage under Medicaid if they sign up and meet income eligibility guidelines.

Texas has the highest rate of uninsured residents and children in the nation, but state lawmakers nonetheless have declined to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

Melissa McChesney, policy analyst for the Health and Wellness Team at the Texas Center for Public Policy Priorities, said that when uninsured people get sick, they often wait too long to see a doctor.

"That has cost implications for that particular person, as that's a much more expensive way to treat that illness as opposed to going to a doctor when they first got sick," she said. "But also, it's more expensive overall for everyone."

It's estimated the cost of COVID treatment for someone uninsured can top $30,000, which could lead some people to skip testing or delay getting medical care.

Texans can learn more about benefits that might be available during the current health crisis, including Medicaid, SNAP food assistance and the Children's Health Insurance Program, at YourTexasBenefits.com.

According to a Georgetown University report, the number of uninsured children in Texas increased 16% between 2016 and 2018. McChesney said it keeps rising because many families earn too much for Medicaid eligibility, but not enough to purchase coverage through the Affordable Care Act. She said the pandemic has illustrated how many families are vulnerable.

"If we expanded Medicaid and provided insurance to those parents -- we've seen it in other states - it would create a 'welcome mat' effect, where you would also see the children of those parents becoming insured through the Medicaid program as well," she said.

More than 10% of Texas children were uninsured prior to the pandemic, a number likely to increase due to more than 2 million unemployment claims filed across the state since March.

The Georgetown report is online at kidshealthcarereport.ccf.georgetown.edu and the
and Center for Public Policy Priorities frequently asked questions are at forabettertexas.org.

Disclosure: Georgetown University Center for Children & Families contributes to our fund for reporting on Children's Issues and Health Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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