Report: Texas Tops List Of Uninsured Americans

DALLAS (AP) – Texas virtually leads the nation in the percentage of residents without health insurance, according to a published report.

The Dallas Morning News reported Sunday that only 49.5 percent of the state’s residents have health coverage on the job, based on a two-year average ending in 2008. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated this month that across the country, almost 59 percent of people have health insurance.

Up to one-third of Dallas-area residents lack health insurance. A sizable number of northern Texans are footing the bill through taxes and higher insurance costs.

Texas’ health insurance woes are compounded by the large number of uninsured illegal immigrants.

The chief executive of Baylor Health Care System, Joel Allison, says a restrictive state Medicaid program also contributes to the number of uninsured.

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(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)