TX El Paso HCFactSheet NEW
Texas is home to 22 of the 30 counties in the entire United States that would benefit the most from full implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
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Politics or People? How El Paso County, Texas Stands To Benefit from Obamacare
While conservatives put politics over people, Reps. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) and Pete Gallego (D-TX) are putting their constituents first.
Starting October 1, millions of Americans will finally be able to sign up to purchase quality, affordable health care for the first time when the new Obamacare marketplaces open for enrollment. Many of these same Americans and others will be eligible for subsidies that will make coverage even more affordable. And come January 1, 2014, the worst abuses of the insurance industry, including denying coverage to those with preexisting conditions, will be history. But many conservatives in Congress and their allies are refighting old political battles and refusing to help people and businesses from even finding out how the law will work and how to take advantage of its benefits. Sadly, many of these opponents of Obamacare represent counties with some of the highest rates of uninsured people in the nation. Out of the more than 3,100 counties in the nation, the residents of El Paso County, Texas are among those who stand to benefit the most from Obamacare. Democratic Reps. Beto O’Rourke and Pete Gallego, who represent El Paso County, are doing their job and helping their constituents take advantage of the law and its benefits - like free preventative care, lower premiums and ensuring coverage for pre-existing conditions. Reps. O’Rourke and Gallego recognize that Obamacare is the law of the land and it is time to make sure it works for people and businesses in their districts. It’s time for conservatives to stop refighting old political games and start following Reps. O’Rourke and Gallego’s lead to make sure their constituents have the information they need to take advantage of the benefits and enroll in health care.
El Paso County Facts:
230,924 are uninsured. Of the 703,756 people in El Paso County under age 65, 32.8 percent are uninsured. Among over 3,100 counties in the country, that’s the 48th highest rate of uninsured residents—among the lowest 2 percent.i 121,383 women are uninsured. In El Paso County, 33.5 percent of women under age 65 are uninsured — placing it in the lowest one percent of all counties in the nation and the 23rd worst county out of over 3,100 counties overall. ii 111,950 young people are uninsured. In El Paso County, 46.5 percent of young people age 18 to 39 lack health insurance, placing it in the worst 2 percent among all counties in the nation and making it the 72nd worst county out of over 3,100 counties overall.iii 94,910 uninsured are eligible for subsidies or tax credits. In El Paso County, 32.5 percent of those making between 138 and 400 percent of the federal poverty line – a key group that will qualify for insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act – are uninsured. Among this group, it is in the worst 2 percent among all counties in the nation and the 59th worst county overall. 214,567 Hispanics are insured. In El Paso County, 33.6 percent of Hispanics are uninsured— placing it in the 40th percentile among all counties in the nation.iv
High rate of diabetes. El Paso County has a rate of diabetes prevalence that is higher than the national average, at 8.4 percent of the population.v High rate of stroke mortality. El Paso County’s stroke mortality rate of those under age 75 is 13.2 per 100,000 people – 12 percent over the national average.vi
Reps. Beto O’Rourke and Pete Gallego
Democratic Reps. Beto O’Rourke and Pete Gallego, who represent El Paso County, recognize that Obamacare is the law of the land and that it’s their job to make sure it works for their constituents and that they understand how to take advantage of its benefits: Rep. O’Rourke: “I support building on what is good in the law and fixing what does not work.”vii Rep. Gallego: “We should work to fix what doesn't work; not repeal what does.”viii Rep. Gallego: “Texans deserve to know that affordable health coverage options are available to them.”ix
Census Bureau, "Small Area Health Insurance Estimates," 2010. http://www.census.gov/did/www/sahie/data/interactive/ (last accessed July 2013). ii Ibid. iii Ibid. iv Census Bureau, "American Community Survey," 3-year estimates 2008-2010. Accessed using American Fact Finder: http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml (last accessed July 2013). v Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Interactive Diabetes Atlases,” 2009, http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/atlas/ (last accessed July 2013). vi Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Interactive Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke Tables,” 3 -year estimates 20082010, http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/DHDSPAtlas/reports.aspx (last accessed July 2013). vii Beto O’Rourke, “Regarding the Implementation of the Affordable Care Act,” 17 July 2013, http://orourke.house.gov/media center/vote-explanations/regarding-the-implementation-of-the-affordable-care-act-obamacare-aca (last accessed July 2013). viii Pete Gallego, “Gallego Votes to Keep Health Care Protections for Texans,” 16 May 2013, http://gallego.house.gov/mediacenter/press-releases/gallego-votes-to-keep-health-care-protections-fortexans?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed (last accessed July 2013). ix Pete Gallego, “Health Centers in TX-23 Counties to receive $1.66 million,” 12 July 2013, http://gallego.house.gov/mediacenter/press-releases/gallego-announces-146120-in-federal-funds-for-united-medical-centers-in (last accessed July 2013).
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While conservatives put politics over people, Reps. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) and Pete Gallego (D-TX) are putting their constituents first.
Starting October 1, millions of Americans will finally be able to sign up to purchase quality, affordable health care for the first time when the new Obamacare marketplaces open for enrollment. Many of these same Americans and others will be eligible for subsidies that will make coverage even more affordable. And come January 1, 2014, the worst abuses of the insurance industry, including denying coverage to those with preexisting conditions, will be history. But many conservatives in Congress and their allies are refighting old political battles and refusing to help people and businesses from even finding out how the law will work and how to take advantage of its benefits. Sadly, many of these opponents of Obamacare represent counties with some of the highest rates of uninsured people in the nation. Out of the more than 3,100 counties in the nation, the residents of El Paso County, Texas are among those who stand to benefit the most from Obamacare. Democratic Reps. Beto O’Rourke and Pete Gallego, who represent El Paso County, are doing their job and helping their constituents take advantage of the law and its benefits - like free preventative care, lower premiums and ensuring coverage for pre-existing conditions. Reps. O’Rourke and Gallego recognize that Obamacare is the law of the land and it is time to make sure it works for people and businesses in their districts. It’s time for conservatives to stop refighting old political games and start following Reps. O’Rourke and Gallego’s lead to make sure their constituents have the information they need to take advantage of the benefits and enroll in health care.
El Paso County Facts:
230,924 are uninsured. Of the 703,756 people in El Paso County under age 65, 32.8 percent are uninsured. Among over 3,100 counties in the country, that’s the 48th highest rate of uninsured residents—among the lowest 2 percent.i 121,383 women are uninsured. In El Paso County, 33.5 percent of women under age 65 are uninsured — placing it in the lowest one percent of all counties in the nation and the 23rd worst county out of over 3,100 counties overall. ii 111,950 young people are uninsured. In El Paso County, 46.5 percent of young people age 18 to 39 lack health insurance, placing it in the worst 2 percent among all counties in the nation and making it the 72nd worst county out of over 3,100 counties overall.iii 94,910 uninsured are eligible for subsidies or tax credits. In El Paso County, 32.5 percent of those making between 138 and 400 percent of the federal poverty line – a key group that will qualify for insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act – are uninsured. Among this group, it is in the worst 2 percent among all counties in the nation and the 59th worst county overall. 214,567 Hispanics are insured. In El Paso County, 33.6 percent of Hispanics are uninsured— placing it in the 40th percentile among all counties in the nation.iv
High rate of diabetes. El Paso County has a rate of diabetes prevalence that is higher than the national average, at 8.4 percent of the population.v High rate of stroke mortality. El Paso County’s stroke mortality rate of those under age 75 is 13.2 per 100,000 people – 12 percent over the national average.vi
Reps. Beto O’Rourke and Pete Gallego
Democratic Reps. Beto O’Rourke and Pete Gallego, who represent El Paso County, recognize that Obamacare is the law of the land and that it’s their job to make sure it works for their constituents and that they understand how to take advantage of its benefits: Rep. O’Rourke: “I support building on what is good in the law and fixing what does not work.”vii Rep. Gallego: “We should work to fix what doesn't work; not repeal what does.”viii Rep. Gallego: “Texans deserve to know that affordable health coverage options are available to them.”ix
Census Bureau, "Small Area Health Insurance Estimates," 2010. http://www.census.gov/did/www/sahie/data/interactive/ (last accessed July 2013). ii Ibid. iii Ibid. iv Census Bureau, "American Community Survey," 3-year estimates 2008-2010. Accessed using American Fact Finder: http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml (last accessed July 2013). v Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Interactive Diabetes Atlases,” 2009, http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/atlas/ (last accessed July 2013). vi Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Interactive Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke Tables,” 3 -year estimates 20082010, http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/DHDSPAtlas/reports.aspx (last accessed July 2013). vii Beto O’Rourke, “Regarding the Implementation of the Affordable Care Act,” 17 July 2013, http://orourke.house.gov/media center/vote-explanations/regarding-the-implementation-of-the-affordable-care-act-obamacare-aca (last accessed July 2013). viii Pete Gallego, “Gallego Votes to Keep Health Care Protections for Texans,” 16 May 2013, http://gallego.house.gov/mediacenter/press-releases/gallego-votes-to-keep-health-care-protections-fortexans?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed (last accessed July 2013). ix Pete Gallego, “Health Centers in TX-23 Counties to receive $1.66 million,” 12 July 2013, http://gallego.house.gov/mediacenter/press-releases/gallego-announces-146120-in-federal-funds-for-united-medical-centers-in (last accessed July 2013).
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