Top 8 TX Chambers of Commerce Call for Health Coverage Solution

The Chambers of Commerce representing Texas' eight largest metro areas recently wrote to the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker of the House expressing their support for "bipartisan policies that result in more Texans obtaining access to quality and affordable health care coverage."

The letter says:

Texas suffers from the highest uninsured rate and number of uninsured individuals in the nation. Even though most Texans without health insurance are employed, they lack the ability to access employer-based coverage, Medicare, Medicaid, and other subsidized individual insurance available to families with incomes over the poverty level. These individuals are uninsured because they earn too little money – or too much money – and fall into a coverage gap leaving them without viable options for health insurance coverage. It is past time we address this situation with a sensible and stable solution.

The business groups call on state leaders to support a "thoughtful waiver-based program drawing on innovative solutions adopted from states like Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Indiana, Montana" that follows a number of principles outlined in the letter.