Texas Health Insurance Sucks - Why Do Texans Want To Keep It?

Finally the Democrats are figuring out that the GOP is never going to reconcile on Insurance Reform. I call it that because this is what this whole thing is about. Health Reform mostly means insurance reform and it's time we called it what it is. The Republicans have been sucking the teat of the insurance companies for so long they are afraid do anything that will upset them. In Texas that is particularly true.

How bad is it here in the Lone Star State?

• 25 percent of people in Texas are uninsured, and 75 percent of them are in families with at least one full-time worker. (U.S. Census Bureau)
• The percent of Texans with employer coverage is declining: from 57 to 50 percent between 2000 and 2007.
• Much of the decline is among workers in small businesses. While small businesses make up 70 percent of Texas businesses,⁹ only 32 percent of them offered health coverage benefits in 2006 -- down 5 percent since 2000.
• Choice of health insurance is limited in Texas. HCSC (Blue Cross Blue Shield ) alone constitutes 39 percent of the health insurance market share in Texas, with the top two insurance providers accounting for 59 percent.
• Choice is even more limited for people with pre-existing conditions. In Texas, premiums can vary based on demographic factors and health status, and coverage can exclude pre-existing conditions or even be denied completely.

To make matters worse, the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality give Texas a "weak" rating as far as quality of care. We have a population that is seeing more and more health problems as well.

• 20 percent of children in Texas are obese.
• 25 percent of women over the age of 50 in Texas have not received a mammogram in the past two years.
• 44 percent of men over the age of 50 in Texas have never had a colorectal cancer screening.
• 66 percent of adults over the age of 65 in Texas have received a flu vaccine in the past year.

So with this kind of situation staring us in the face, tell me why the hell anyone would be upset at having a better, cheaper option to the existing insurance system that quite frankly doesn't cover nearly enough people or conditions?

It's time the Democratic Party went it alone and started acting like the majority. If they don't, they will loose that majority in coming elections. Now, write your Congressperson and tell them to get with the program!