\t\t\t\t\t![\"Nearly](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770315018_76_.webp\")
Nearly 14% of Texas kids are uninsured, more than double the national rate. While Latino children represent the largest uninsured racial or ethnic group in almost every area of the state, they represent 97% of uninsured children in the Rio Grande Valley region. In North Texas, 58% of uninsured kids are Latino. (Yfat Yossifor | KERA)<\/p>\n
Texas\u2019 Latino population is shouldering the weight of the children\u2019s health coverage crisis, according to analysis from a civil rights and advocacy organization.<\/p>\n
Texas has had the highest rate of uninsured children for nearly 20 years. In 2024, there were more than 1 million uninsured children in the state.<\/p>\n
UnidosUS, the nation\u2019s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization, published a new report Thursday that found two-thirds of Texas\u2019 uninsured children are Latino.<\/p>\n
Eric Holgu\u00edn, the organization\u2019s Texas state director, said with recent policy changes<\/a>, he expects the rate of uninsured children to grow<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important to know that having uninsured kids, one, it\u2019s a moral issue that we need to address,\u201d Holgu\u00edn said. \u201cBut two, it\u2019s an economic issue for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Nearly 14% of Texas kids are uninsured, more than double the national rate.<\/a><\/p>\n While Latino children represent the largest uninsured racial or ethnic group in almost every area of the state, they represent 97% of uninsured children in the Rio Grande Valley region. In North Texas, 58% of uninsured kids are Latino.<\/p>\n North Texas\u2019 overall uninsured rate for children is tied for the second highest in the state behind West Texas \u2013 with the Panhandle and the Rio Grande Valley also at 15%.<\/p>\n A high rate of uninsured children increases health care costs for everyone, Holgu\u00edn said. Uninsured children are more likely to rely on the emergency room as their primary source of care \u2013 meaning preventable health concerns become worse and only the immediate health concern is addressed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe emergency room takes care of them by law,\u201d Holgu\u00edn said. \u201cIf they\u2019re not able to pay, that cost then gets pushed on to people who can pay and your health insurance premiums.\u201d<\/p>\n Holgu\u00edn said there are several factors contributing to the uninsured rate in the state, including \u201cbureaucratic red tape\u201d and concerns about immigration crackdowns<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe state has not done anything to curtail what\u2019s going on with this,\u201d he said. \u201cWe rank eighth [in largest economies] if we\u2019re to be considered our own country and GDP. There\u2019s plenty of abundance economically and financially here in the state. The question is: Why is that not translating into kids having health insurance?\u201d<\/p>\n The report highlights several ways for the state to address the high rate of uninsured children, including removing administrative barriers to programs like Medicaid<\/a> and the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP<\/a>. UnidosUS found the majority of uninsured children are eligible for public insurance or financial assistance through the federal health insurance marketplace<\/a>.<\/p>\n The organization also advocates for expanding Medicaid<\/a> to cover low-income adults<\/a>. The report said when parents are insured, their children are more likely to be enrolled in coverage.<\/p>\n The report highlights the return on investment when governments fund health coverage for children. For every $1 invested, the government saves $4 in future cost savings. When the benefits to the child themselves are considered, each dollar generates at least $12.66.<\/p>\n \u201cIf a kid doesn\u2019t get the education because they\u2019re being impacted by how sick they are, then, whenever they grow up, their job prospects don\u2019t amount to something that\u2019s more fruitful for them,\u201d Holgu\u00edn said. \u201cIt\u2019s really this domino effect that plays out through their whole life.\u201d<\/p>\n Holgu\u00edn said UnidosUS has worked with other community organizations to try to address Texas\u2019 high uninsured rate but hasn\u2019t been able to make much progress with the state.<\/p>\n \u201c[It\u2019s] a matter of choice that the state, that state leaders \u2014 including Governor Abbott is making,\u201d Holgu\u00edn said. \u201cThis is not a partisan issue and more so \u2014 it of an issue of priorities.\u201d<\/p>\n Abigail Ruhman is KERA\u2019s health reporter. Got a tip? Email Abigail at aruhman@kera.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n