Well-being of Texas Children: Positives and Negatives

The Center for Public Policy Priorities is doing important research on the impacts of state policy on Texas’ children. The Austin, Texas think tank regularly releases comprehensive national, state, and local (by county or large cities) data and reports on the well-being of children across the Lone Star State.

One particularly informative annual report is The State of Texas Children. For this year’s recently released report, click here. Here are some statistics from the report that we found especially disturbing:

·        For the past 11 years, Texas has had the highest rate of uninsured children (19%) in the United States – and it continues to hold steady at the “top.” This means that nearly 1 in every 5 children in our state does not have health coverage. The national average is 11%.

·        Almost 1 out of every 4 Texas children is living in poverty

·        Children constitute 25% of Texas’ population – but constitute 40% of all impoverished individuals in the state

·        Recently, Texas was ranked:

o       34^th in overall child well-being

o       43^rd in child poverty

o       48^th in rates of teen pregnancy

o       Tied for last in food insecurity (term used to describe families who do not know where their next meal will come from)

·        From 2008 to 2009, the state experienced an unprecedented increase of children living in poverty: 163,000

In the uphill battle to provide public health insurance for more children in Texas and nation-wide, there are also some positives:

·        Over 2008 and 2009, the state lowered the overall rate of uninsured children. It did so by dedicating more resources (both human and financial) to the cause, ensuring greater ease and access in the sign-up process for public health insurance programs (CHIP and Medicaid).

·        Healthcare reform, which has taken place under the Obama administration, has significant positive implications for children:

o       “New reforms have ended discrimination against sick children.”

o       “Reform promotes preventive treatment, prohibits lifetime limits and denying children coverage based on a preexisting condition, will prohibit insurance companies from charging more for kids with health conditions, and strengthens the health insurance families already have.”

·        HB 2474 (authored by Rep. Marisa Marquez) proposes to raise CHIP income eligibility to 300% (it is currently 200%) of the Federal Poverty Level. 2011 FPL guidelines indicate that, for a family of three, 300% of the FPL is equivalent to $55,590/year. On March 18, 2011, the bill was first read and then referred to Public Health. As of April 25, the bill was still in committee.