Health uninsured rates remain high in Tarrant County. Here’s why it matters.
Texas and Tarrant County health uninsured rates increased last year, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau this month.
The high numbers of uninsured persons, which sit at 16.7% for the state and 16.9% for the county, mean Texas continues to have the highest uninsured rate in the country, according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
The percentage of uninsured residents has stayed relatively the same in Tarrant County over the last several years, generally hovering just over 16% since 2015. The uninsured rate increased from 15.7% in 2023 to 16.9% in 2024.
Reasons for the high numbers of uninsured in the state differ at the individual level, ranging from affordability concerns to people not being aware of their eligibility for government-sponsored programs, according to the Texas Medical Association.
The most cited reason for not having medical insurance is the lack of employer-sponsored insurance, according to Texas 2036, an organization dedicated to improving quality of life ahead of the state’s bicentennial anniversary.
The Census Bureau noted that differences from state to state could reflect Medicaid eligibility renewal timelines implemented after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the three most populated Texas counties having the most uninsured residents, Harris, Dallas and Tarrant counties are in the middle of the pack when it comes to the percentage of uninsured residents.
The September study does not have insurance rates for all Texas counties, as the American Community Survey only accounts for counties with populations greater than 65,000. However, previous estimates from the 2020 census show the counties with the highest percentage of uninsured residents are near the U.S.-Mexico border and the Texas Panhandle. Counties in those areas have some of the highest poverty rates in the state.
Counties can create public hospital districts to provide health care to those who are uninsured or low income. Seven of the 10 largest counties in the state have a hospital district.
Dr. Razaq Badamosi, the chief quality officer at Tarrant County’s JPS Health Network, said when a person is uninsured, they are more likely to struggle with access to food and housing.
Those who are uninsured are likely to put off regular, preventative care, such as checkups and screenings.
“The benefit of insurance is preventative care and management of chronic diseases, which really is what gets impacted when you start seeing uninsurance rates going high,” Badamosi said.
Promoting preventative care services for uninsured people is beneficial for both the person and public medical systems, as improved health oversight can decrease the need for costly emergency room visits.
A Texas 2036 survey of uninsured individuals found that 36% of uninsured people go to the emergency room for preventative care, increasing the amount of unnecessary visits across the state. Such emergency room visits cost $32 billion a year nationally, according to data from the UnitedHealth Group.
Along with improved health, Badamosi noted the value for uninsured individuals accessing preventative care helps a person to remain employed and possibly afford insurance later on.
“We can only talk about a job, being employed, or even getting insurance if we are healthy,” Badamosi said.
Ismael M. Belkoura is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at ismael.belkoura@fortworthreport.org.
At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.