High Uninsured Rate in Dallas Pushing Employer Premiums Higher

HealthLeaders-InterStudy, a Nashville, Tenn.-based provider of managed care market intelligence, reports that the high uninsured rate in the Dallas, Texas, area is contributing to an increase in premiums employers pay to provide health benefits for their employees.

According to the Dallas Market Overview, the high uninsured rate in the market is increasing levels of uncompensated care in area hospitals, which leads hospitals to pressure health plans for higher reimbursements to help them balance some of the losses associated with caring for the uninsured. Such reimbursement increases are among the escalating costs that drive premiums higher.

The uninsured rate in the Dallas market is 24 percent as of July 2009. According to U.S. Census data, Texas leads the nation in the percentage of uninsured residents at 25 percent.

Efforts to lower medical costs are emerging throughout the region, and include the development of patient-centered medical homes, a regional health information exchange and wellness programs, according to the report.

Source: HealthLeaders-InterStudy

Topics Commercial Lines Business Insurance