Third-party funding of health care services for the uninsured of Tarrant County.
This study investigated how many citizens of Tarrant County do not have health insurance, what sources fund their health care, and how this level of funding compares with the privately insured population. Data for 1995 were obtained from various government agencies, local hospitals, local charitable organizations, and a survey of local private physicians. Medicare and Medicaid were considered to be forms of health insurance. Approximately 20% of the citizens of Tarrant County did not have health insurance. Third-party funding for health care for this population was approximately 56% of the funding for the privately insured population ($967 vs $1726 per person per year). The Tarrant County Hospital District contributed 52% of the uninsured funding; private hospitals and physicians, 26%; other state and local agencies, 21%; and charitable donations, 1%. I conclude that health care for the uninsured of Tarrant County is rationed compared with that of the privately insured population.
Young
R A
RA
Department of Family and Community Medicine, John Peter Smith Hospital, USA.
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D005378:Financial Support; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013781:Texas