Report finds deep racial and ethnic health disparities in Texas

June 15, 2026 - 01:26

A new analysis from the Commonwealth Fund has laid bare significant health disparities across Texas, showing that Black and Hispanic residents consistently face worse access to care, higher costs, and poorer health outcomes compared to their white neighbors. The report, which examined data on insurance coverage, preventable hospitalizations, and mortality rates, found that these gaps are not marginal but systemic.

According to the findings, Hispanic Texans are nearly twice as likely to be uninsured as white Texans, a factor that drives delays in treatment and higher rates of chronic disease complications. Black Texans, meanwhile, experience higher death rates from conditions like heart disease and diabetes, even when accounting for income levels. The report also highlighted stark differences in maternal health, with Black women in the state dying from pregnancy-related causes at rates far exceeding those of white women.

Researchers pointed to a combination of economic barriers, geographic isolation from medical facilities, and historical inequities in the healthcare system as root causes. While Texas has expanded some community health programs, the report argues that without broader policy changes--such as closing the Medicaid coverage gap--these disparities will persist. Advocates are now calling on state lawmakers to prioritize funding for rural clinics and anti-bias training in hospitals as a first step toward closing the divide.