Texas, the fifth most expensive state for medical costs, affecting El Paso residents
KFOX14 provides local news, weather coverage and traffic reports for El Paso, Texas and Las Cruces, NM and nearby towns and communities including Clint, Fabens, Socorro, San Elizario, Canutillo, Vinton, Anthony, Ysleta, Horizon City, Fort Bliss, Van Horn, Fort Hancock, Tornillo, Westway, La Mesa, Mesilla, Mesquite, San Miguel, Vado, Deming, Alamogordo, White Sands, Chaparral, Berino, Chamberino, Dona Ana, Elephant Butte, Hatch, La Union, Radium Springs, Sunland Park, Santa Teresa and Truth or Consequences (T or C). Texas is the fifth most expensive state for healthcare, with El Paso County having one of the highest percentages of people without health insurance. According to the 2024 County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, nearly a quarter of residents in the county are uninsured, compared to 18% in Texas. Forbes Advisor Spokesperson Zoi Galarraga attributed higher premiums, deductibles, out-of-pocket costs, lower education levels, unemployment, and income inequality to these factors. Galaraga highlighted Texas' highest percentage of adults who chose not to see a doctor due to costs and children whose family struggled to pay for their child's medical bills.
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Texas ranks fifth among the most expensive states for healthcare with El Paso County having one of the higher percentages of people without health insurance.
According to recent findings from the 2024 County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, nearly a quarter of residents in El Paso County are uninsured, as compared to the 18% of people without health insurance in Texas.
KFOX spoke with Forbes Advisor Spokesperson Zoi Galarraga who says higher premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, lower education levels, unemployment and income inequality can all be contributors as to why healthcare is less accessible and residents can be more likely to delay medical care or forgo health insurance due to cost.
During their research, Galarraga emphasized how Texas stood out the most and why.
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Galarraga says, “Texas really stands out as the state that has both the highest percentage of adults who chose to not see a doctor due to costs and the highest percentage of children whose family who struggled to pay for their child’s medical bills.”
According to Galarraga, when looking at health insurance, it is important to note cost information such as coinsurance and deductibles to figure out the best fit when deciding on coverage.
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