There are about 6 million uninsured Texas residents according to the article “Jason Roberson nominates uninsured Texans, whose staggering health care costs affect us all” by Jason Roberson on The Dallas Morning News.

Texas continues to lead the nation in the percent of uninsured residents, with about one out of every 4 Texans walking around uninsured.  For Dallas health insurance, about 36% of residents under 65 will be uninsured in 2010 according to the state demographer.  The uninsured cost a lot of money as well.  Care for the uninsured in 2005 was about $4.6 billion and for 2010 it’s projected to cost about $6.5 billion according to the Texas Association of Health Plans in Austin.

This cost is paid in part by the insured residents.  For 2010, Texans and Texas employers pay $1800 pre family and $630 per individual in higher health insurance premiums to help cover the uninsured according to The Center for American Progress.  Higher hospital costs which are generated by expensive ER visits by the uninsured drive up health insurance costs for employers which in turn causes them to drop health insurance benefits for their employees.  This just adds to the number of uninsured as the vicious cycle continues.