While Texas boasts a robust economy and favorable business climate, the state lags behind in providing quality healthcare to children. According to WalletHub’s recent ranking, Texas was placed 49th for children’s healthcare, highlighting significant room for improvement.
The study considered various factors such as the percentage of children with excellent or very good health, infant mortality rates, uninsured children, unaffordable medical bills for families, percentage of overweight and obese children, and the number of pediatricians per capita. Texas struggled in many areas but particularly in providing access to healthcare for children. The state was ranked at No. 50 in this category.
Uninsured children are a significant concern in Texas, which has the highest number of uninsured people in the country. In spring 2021, over a million low-income children lost their Medicaid coverage further emphasizing the need for better healthcare options for minors in the state.
Compared to other states, Texas has a higher percentage of uninsured children while Massachusetts has the lowest rate of minors without insurance. Additionally, Texas has the highest percentage of children with unaffordable medical bills; Rhode Island is the most affordable state in this aspect.
The Northeast states like Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island and New Jersey ranked among the top five best states for children’s healthcare overall. This shows that there is an urgent need for Texas to address its healthcare challenges for kids and work towards improving access and quality of care in the state.
