New Study: As Ken Paxton-Backed Policies Drive Up Healthcare Costs, Texas Falls To 48th In The U.S. For Healthcare
Paxton supported the biggest federal cut to healthcare in history, slashing $1 trillion from Medicaid to help fund lavish tax breaks for billionaires
AUSTIN, TX — As the devastating Ken Paxton-backed healthcare cuts begin to take effect, Texans are seeing their premiums soar while thousands more lose health insurance entirely. Now a new study is showing that Texas has fallen to 48th in the country with among highest costs and worst access for healthcare.
Paxton has repeatedly cheered the One Big Ugly Bill, the biggest federal cut to healthcare in American history, as “incredible,” saying he will continue pushing this agenda if elected to the Senate. Now as these Paxton-supported cuts fuel Texas’ healthcare decline, rural Texans are seeing their hospitals close and 1.7 million Texans are expected to lose their health insurance.
Texas Democratic Party Spokesperson Ryan Martin said:
“Ken Paxton backed the largest federal cut to healthcare in American history, and now we are seeing the impacts as Texas falls to among the worst for healthcare in the country. Already, we are seeing rural hospitals in Texas closing, monthly premiums for seniors doubling or tripling, and thousands losing their health insurance entirely because Paxton wanted Texas taxpayers to bankroll handouts for his billionaire donors. Texas is getting sicker and paying more because of Ken Paxton, and voters will be holding him accountable for the healthcare crisis in November.”
See for yourself the impacts of the devastating healthcare cuts Paxton supported causing Texas to fall to the lowest in the U.S. for healthcare:
1.7 million Texans are estimated to lose their health insurance because of Paxton-supported cuts in OBBBA and elimination of the ACA enhanced premium tax credits that families relied on to afford healthcare.
Already, more than 193,000 Texans have lost Medicaid coverage since OBBBA was enacted.
Texas’ state Medicaid fund is estimated to be reduced by nearly $32.4 billion by 2034 under the OBBBA, meaning Texans will go uninsured and Texas hospitals that are already on shoestring budgets will be forced to absorb the costs.
Texans’ average healthcare premiums are projected to spike 115% for those who relied on the ACA enhanced premium tax credits.
KKF estimated the average monthly premium increase for a 60-year-old on a benchmark silver plan in Texas would increase by 216%, or nearly $959 more a month, after the expiration of ACA tax credits.
Already two rural health care facilities in North Texas have closed, and 15 more rural hospitals in Texas are at risk because the Paxton-backed OBBBA slashed their funding.
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