Healthcare shouldn’t be a luxury. It should be a right. Over 5 million Texans live without health insurance, with a large percentage of the uninsured residing in South Texas. This is more than double the national average and the largest proportion of any state. To make matters worse, our state is suffering from health care disparities. People are disproportionately affected by diseases as a result of their race, socioeconomic group, and place of residence.

With over 32% of Hidalgo County residents lacking health insurance coverage today, Hidalgo County has the most to gain from the continued Affordable Care Act subsidies and expanding Medicaid to include adults with incomes below 133 percent of the federal poverty level. The 2025 federal cuts to Medicaid will have a disproportionate impact on South Texas. Texas must step up as the federal government steps back to dramatically decrease the rate of uninsured, improve families’ economic security, and reduce uncompensated care costs that burden hospitals. 

Achieving comprehensive health care reform requires a uniquely Texan approach that preserves what works while introducing new elements that will allow us to meet 21st-century needs and goals. Healthier communities also strengthen the economy. If Texans aren’t healthy, they’re not working. I pledge to continue working with my colleagues in the Legislature to make health care more affordable and accessible for all, especially the middle class, the working class, and other vulnerable Texans. 

Finally, I remain committed to this and future generations by ensuring the preservation and continued improvement of Medicare and Medicaid. We must ensure that Medicare beneficiaries, especially older Americans, have continued access to physician services and care.