Big Increase Seen in People Lacking Health Insurance

Robert Pear of the New York Times has an article on the Census Bureau's report on health coverage and the uninsured. Texas's percentage of uninsured is the highest in the country (24.1%), more than triple the rate for Minnesota, the lowest (8%). Why? Here are two reasons: "Texas, facing fiscal problems and unwilling to raise taxes, cut back Medicaid and its Children's Health Insurance Program this year." Our state CHIP saga is particularly deplorable. The state left over $600 million in federal matching funds on the table because of its unwillingness to allocate money to the program. No state funds = no federal match. Details here.