Florida and Texas residents reported significantly higher uninsured rates than New York and California, according to a new study that examines health coverage in the four largest U.S. states.
The study from the healthcare think tank Commonwealth Fund released Friday noted a main reason for the disparity is that New York and California expanded Medicaid under Obamacare and Florida and Texas did not. California and New York’s own state-run insurance exchanges also played a part, as opposed to Florida and Texas which didn’t set up their own exchanges.
Florida has a rate of 21 percent and Texas 30 percent of working age adults without health coverage in 2014, the study said. California’s uninsured rate was 17 percent and New York’s 12 percent.
The study also found that more people in California and New York have an easier time paying for their medical bills. About 30 percent of New Yorkers and Californians reported having at least one instance where they couldn’t pay for health insurance, compared to 43 percent for Florida and Texas.
The study was based on results from a 2014 survey of adults in the four largest states.
