24% of those under age 65 in Travis County have no health insurance

Indicator: % under age 65 in Travis County with no health insurance

Significance of Indicator: Health insurance improves a person's health and their ability to get an education and achieve and
maintain productive employment reports the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured . Currently, the U.S. Government
and taxpayers spend billions of dollars caring for the uninsured.

what the data tell us

The Story Behind the indicator

In 2009, Texas ranked first among all states in the percent of people with no public or private health insurance according to the
U.S. Census Bureau. Texas provides very few public insurance options for adults. Even though there are more public health insurance
options for children, Texas children are still less likely to have health insurance than children in any other state. Private
insurance has historically been provided through employers, but according to a report by the Center for Public Policy Priorities
(CPPP), only 48% of Texas workers had employer‐sponsored health insurance in 2009, compared to 57% in 2000. The CPPP
estimates that three‐fourths of all uninsured people in Texas are U.S. citizens. To learn more about the story behind the uninsured
in our community, click here.

Some local efforts to improve this indicator

• Integrated Care Coalition (ICC) members screen individuals for public health insurance programs and assist families with
  the application process. ICC is developing technology that would allow agencies, with client permission, to share client
  documents. Catholic Charities of Central Texas, through a grant from the Texas Health and Human Service Commission,
  also provides community outreach and assistance for State benefits including public health insurance programs.
• Central Health operates the Medical Assistance Program (MAP) which provides access to healthcare services for lowincome
  Travis County residents who are not eligible for other public or private insurance programs.

A Closer look at the story behind the indicators