Affordable Health Insurance Should Be a Right, Not a Privilege
The Issue
Access to affordable healthcare is a major social issue in the United States. Health insurance affords individuals and families the opportunity for medical needs, however; the cost of insurance is affecting the financial stability of all races, age, demographics, and employment status. Our community consists of individuals and families throughout the state of Texas who are affected by or concerned about the affordability and accessibility of healthcare and health insurance. This includes individuals and families who struggle to afford insurance premiums, deductibles, copays, medications, and necessary medical care. The inability to access affordable healthcare can have significant effects on individuals' physical and mental health, financial stability, and overall quality of life.
Individuals and families put off health maintenance at the expense of their physical and mental health resulting in poor health outcomes and debt. People should not have to decide whether they can afford to take themselves or their child to the doctor, purchase needed medication or seek treatment for a medical condition while also trying to meet their everyday living expenses.
A person’s ability to receive necessary medical care should not depend solely on income or financial status. Accessing quality medical care should not result in health disparities, financial hardship, and a reduced quality of life (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion [ODPHP], n.d.). Statistics show that there is a need for affordable health insurance. There are 28 million people under the age of 65 who are uninsured. Additionally, there are 5.6 percent of children under the age of 18 who are uninsured. It is evident that millions of families are not able to obtain reliable health coverage. 8.5 percent of people will either wait long periods of time or will not receive the medical care needed due to cost (CDC, 2024). Policy Changes Needed:
Make the programs for affordable health insurance larger.
Provide families that need it with more financial aid and lower insurance premiums.
Make it easier for people to get affordable preventive and primary care.
Healthcare ought not to be based on an individual's income. We call on Governor Greg Abbott, Members of the Texas Legislature, and Texas Insurance Commissioner Amanda Crawford to create policies that make health insurance more affordable and accessible for everyone.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, August 5). Unmet need for health care -
health, United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/topics/unmet-need.htm
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The Issue
Access to affordable healthcare is a major social issue in the United States. Health insurance affords individuals and families the opportunity for medical needs, however; the cost of insurance is affecting the financial stability of all races, age, demographics, and employment status. Our community consists of individuals and families throughout the state of Texas who are affected by or concerned about the affordability and accessibility of healthcare and health insurance. This includes individuals and families who struggle to afford insurance premiums, deductibles, copays, medications, and necessary medical care. The inability to access affordable healthcare can have significant effects on individuals' physical and mental health, financial stability, and overall quality of life.
Individuals and families put off health maintenance at the expense of their physical and mental health resulting in poor health outcomes and debt. People should not have to decide whether they can afford to take themselves or their child to the doctor, purchase needed medication or seek treatment for a medical condition while also trying to meet their everyday living expenses.
A person’s ability to receive necessary medical care should not depend solely on income or financial status. Accessing quality medical care should not result in health disparities, financial hardship, and a reduced quality of life (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion [ODPHP], n.d.). Statistics show that there is a need for affordable health insurance. There are 28 million people under the age of 65 who are uninsured. Additionally, there are 5.6 percent of children under the age of 18 who are uninsured. It is evident that millions of families are not able to obtain reliable health coverage. 8.5 percent of people will either wait long periods of time or will not receive the medical care needed due to cost (CDC, 2024). Policy Changes Needed:
Make the programs for affordable health insurance larger.
Provide families that need it with more financial aid and lower insurance premiums.
Make it easier for people to get affordable preventive and primary care.
Healthcare ought not to be based on an individual's income. We call on Governor Greg Abbott, Members of the Texas Legislature, and Texas Insurance Commissioner Amanda Crawford to create policies that make health insurance more affordable and accessible for everyone.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, August 5). Unmet need for health care -
health, United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/topics/unmet-need.htm
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Petition created on September 14, 2026