现在, 然而, Congress has a historic opportunity to enact a comprehensive and permanent solution to the 医疗补助计划 coverage gap. All Texans should keep a close eye on this debate.
Congress is considering two broad options as part of the beat365网址和解法案: Create a federalized 医疗补助计划 program for people in non-expansion states, or allow people currently excluded from 医疗补助计划 and ACA coverage to enroll in fully subsidized marketplace coverage.
A third, 更多的 specific proposal, the 覆盖现在行动该报告由德克萨斯州众议员提交. 劳埃德·道根, would allow counties and groups of counties to set up local or regional 医疗补助计划 expansion programs directly with the federal government, 绕过国家批准. The counties and groups would apply for special 医疗补助计划 waivers that would grant them the same kind of federal funding available to states that have already expanded 医疗补助计划.
Each of these approaches has its limitations and challenges. But each would be superior to the moral failure and structural racism represented by the status quo.
Texas holds the distinction of leading the country in the rate of uninsured — 18.4% in 2019 compared to nine percent nationally. In our majority-minority state, 75 percent of uninsured Texans who would have 获得保险 from 医疗补助计划 expansion are 人的颜色; 更多的 than 70 percent live below the poverty line.
These are the same folks who, 在大流行, 给我们的杂货打电话了吗, 我们准备的食物, 交付我们的包, cared for our elderly and 更多的. They kept our economy running, even though their jobs are disproportionately 不太可能 to offer health insurance and have placed them at higher risk of getting COVID-19.
The critical need for health care coverage in communities of color has exacerbated during the pandemic. Not only did COVID-19 hit these communities 困难，但他们在 更高的利率 than white communities did and have economically recovered 更慢.
Similar patterns of racial disparities and hardship 可以看到 among the 11 other non-expansion states as well.
High rates of uninsurance affect 更多的 than those who are uninsured. In Texas, they pose a serious threat to our economy. Increased absenteeism and fewer skilled workers are bad for business, especially in the midst of a national labor shortage.
Congress can and should debate the specifics of the proposals available for closing the coverage gap, striving for the quickest and most cost-effective approach that covers the most people. Texans are watching how this debate plays out.
Opponents argue that covering the uninsured costs money. But members of Congress should be 更多的 concerned about the cost of inaction.
It’s entirely possible that Congress, like our own state legislature, will fail to do what’s needed. That said, this is a moment for leadership, and Congress should not allow this moment to pass.
