| Health coverage for the family helps to | | | | |
| assist those families in obtaining more | | | | Although many children are in families where |
| affordable healthcare services, says a report | | | | they would be eligible for the State |
| by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. The | | | | Children's Health Insurance Program, concerns |
| Foundation, which based the report on its | | | | exist over widespread knowledge of the |
| 2005 Low-Income Coverage and Access Survey, | | | | programs -- only 47% say they have heard of |
| makes the argument that not having health | | | | SCHIP. |
| insurance affects not just a parent's health, | | | | |
| but also the well-being of the entire family. | | | | Research, the Kaiser report says, has |
| | | | documented the importance of family coverage |
| The vast majority of low-income uninsured | | | | as a tool to reach uninsured children and to |
| parents, according to the report, are without | | | | improve access to healthcare. |
| access to health coverage. At the same time, | | | | |
| their children are also much more likely to | | | | Low-income uninsured parents often have |
| be without health insurance. Indeed, four out | | | | serious health problems, says the Kaiser |
| of 10 low-income parents, defined as those | | | | report. Unfortunately, financial barriers |
| with income below 200% of the federal poverty | | | | block access to care. |
| level (about $40,000 for a family of four in | | | | |
| 2007) do not have health insurance coverage. | | | | More than one quarter of uninsured parents in |
| | | | low-income families say they have fair or |
| Throughout Texas, and especially in cities | | | | poor health, with 14% saying they experience |
| such as Dallas, Houston and Austin, the | | | | pain almost every day and 8% reporting they |
| percentage of uninsured residents is higher | | | | have a disability that prevents them from |
| than any other state -- more than 24% | | | | participating fully in work or other |
| according to most observers, including the | | | | activities. Nearly half of uninsured parents, |
| Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. | | | | the Kaiser report says, say they have a |
| | | | chronic condition, leading to the likelihood |
| The Kaiser Family Foundation report also | | | | of their receiving less care with worse |
| states that most low-income uninsured parents | | | | health outcomes than for those with similar |
| are in working families but with employment | | | | health conditions who do have health |
| in areas of the economy that do not typically | | | | insurance. |
| offer health coverage. Those sectors include | | | | |
| construction, service and agricultural jobs, | | | | While low-income uninsured parents have |
| areas with the lowest levels of | | | | serious healthcare problems, the Kaiser |
| employer-sponsored insurance. The U.S. | | | | report states that their conditions are far |
| Census Bureau indicates that only about 25% | | | | worse than those with insured parents. |
| of low-income workers in these industries | | | | Low-income uninsured parents, for example, |
| were covered through an employer-sponsored | | | | are half as likely to have visited a doctor |
| plan in 2005. | | | | for preventive care in the past 12 months. |
| | | | Further, those without a medical home or |
| Workers without health insurance are also | | | | regular preventive care may delay treatment |
| more likely to work for firms with fewer than | | | | in the early stages of a condition, allowing |
| 25 employees, those companies being least | | | | the condition to worsen and possibly leading |
| likely to provide employer coverage. | | | | to more expensive treatment later on. |
| | | | |
| More than half of uninsured low-income | | | | The Kaiser report also states that lack of |
| parents in employed families work for | | | | care causes serious health and financial |
| companies that do not offer coverage to any | | | | consequences for low-income uninsured |
| employees. Further, they do not have coverage | | | | parents, with 60% saying they saw their |
| through a spouse. Also, an additional 35% of | | | | condition get worse as a result of not |
| low-income uninsured parents are not eligible | | | | getting timely care and 30% reporting a loss |
| for coverage through either their employer or | | | | of time at work or other activities. |
| their spouse's employer, either because they | | | | |
| have not been employed long enough or they do | | | | As the Kaiser report summarizes, health |
| not work enough hours to be covered. | | | | insurance for low-income parents influences |
| | | | not only their own health and access to care |
| Only 13% of low-income uninsured parents have | | | | but also the well-being of their families. |
| access to employer coverage, the Kaiser | | | | When parents have health insurance, their |
| report says. At the same time, the coverage | | | | children are more likely to be covered as |
| that is available is too expensive for most | | | | well, giving them access to healthcare. |
| parents to afford. | | | | |