Methods to Increase Access to Care for the Uninsured and the Indigent in the Greater San Antonio Hospital Systems: A Policy Analysis

Health care coverage in the United States has decreased drastically over the past 10 years. This phenomenon is of tremendous concern as the number of uninsured persons in the United States has increased considerably from 33 million to over 46 million within a decade. Of all the states, Texas has the highest rates of uninsured and under-insured in the country. According to the Census Bureau, an estimated 24.6 percent of the total population or 5.4 million Texans Were uninsured in 2004. For the 44-46 age cohorts, classified as non-elderly, the statewide uninsured rate was 27.3 percent. Specific to San Antonio, one in every four persons is uninsured. As a result, this lack of access to health care coverage has resulted in poor health outcomes, higher mortality rates, shorter life spans, low income, educational inadequacies, and low socio-economic standing in the community. The purpose of this policy analysis is to identify the best policy alternatives that will increase access to care for the uninsured in San Antonio, Texas and at the same time improve the socio-economic standing of the community as a whole.