Uninsured in Texas - A Call to Care

About the Issue

Nearly 26 percent of our population - or 5.5 million people - in Texas lack basic health care coverage. This means they cannot access health care as often as those with insurance. Research shows that people without insurance delay seeking care and may not follow up with a doctor's order to purchase needed prescriptions or medical tests. Consequently, they end up in our hospitals' emergency rooms, sicker and in need of more costly care.

What You Can Do

1. Pray . As a people of faith, we are called to pray - for the poor, for the sick, for health care providers, and for those who make public policy.



2. Become Informed. You can begin by becoming more informed about the issue of the uninsured. Understand that the "uninsured" are not a faceless group of people. They could be our neighbors, members of our own family, and our fellow church members.



3. Volunteer. You can volunteer - at a local health clinic, at a Catholic hospital or social services agency - and use your time and talents to help those in need.



4. Become part of a community collaboration. You can work with others in your community to help address the health needs of the poor in your community.



5. Impact public policy. Talk to your elected officials about the uninsured and ask them to continue working towards national and state solutions that more effectively provide health insurance coverage to those who need it most.

Resources

•  Report - Uninsured in Texas - A Call to Care (Download MS Word or PDF)

•  Powerpoint presentation - Uninsured in Texas - A Call to Care

•  Sample Letters and Church Bulletin Inserts (Download MS Word)

•  Sample Prayers for Cover the Uninsured Week (Download MS Word)

•  Catholic Health Care Ministry is actively participating in Cover The Uninsured Week - several events are planned. To see what events are planned across the state, click here <CTUW - Ministry Activities in Texas>

Learn More

There are many resources available to help you learn more about this important issue. Here are just a few of the many sites from which you can find valuable information:

• Catholic Health Association of the United States - www.chausa.org
  
  CHA of the United States developed resources specifically for the Roman Catholic community. Visit their website to learn what Catholic health ministry is doing to support CTUW.



• Cover the Uninsured Week - www.covertheuninsuredweek.org
  
  This is the official site and contains many facts and resources for planning an event as well as tools for faith-based activities.



• The Kaiser Family Foundation - www.kff.org
  
  This website has many resources regarding health coverage, the uninsured, Medicaid, and CHIP.



• Families USA - www.familiesusa.org
  
  Families USA 's website also has many resources regarding Medicaid, CHIP, and the uninsured.



• Texas Department of Health Services - www.tdh.state.tx.us
  
  The website of this state agency has county facts and health related information, which include the number and percent of uninsured in each county.