Across the nation, the rate of uninsured individuals has increased, with 8.2% of the U.S. population being uninsured as of 2024. That’s 27.1 million individuals.
And those that are insured often find it increasingly difficult to maintain insurance company’s high premiums, or find the amount of insurance coverage to be significantly lacking.
These issues are not exclusive to one state, however the healthcare system and health insurance climate in Louisiana is among the worst in the U.S.
Healthcare burdens in Louisiana
In Louisiana, the uninsured rate has been increasing since 2019, with 10% of Louisiana adults being uninsured as of 2023. This high number of uninsured residents can largely be attributed to the high cost of health insurance.
However, the rate of uninsured residents is not the only problem found within Louisiana’s healthcare system.
According to a Healthcare Value Hub data brief in 2023, which used data gathered via survey of 1,400 Louisiana adults, around 67% of Louisiana residents experienced at least one issue regarding healthcare affordability within the past year, and approximately 78% of residents are concerned about being able to afford healthcare in the future.
According to Healthcare Value Hub, the reported issues of healthcare affordability include being uninsured due to high premium costs, delaying or forgoing healthcare due to cost and struggling to pay medical bills.
Healthcare Value Hub also found that lower-income residents and residents with disabilities reported higher uninsured rates and a higher number of accumulated debt due to healthcare costs.
Healthcare Disparities in Louisiana
It’s no secret that there are major disparities within the Louisiana healthcare system.
Whether it’s a lack of quality care, high expenses when it comes to receiving necessary treatments, or inequalities some demographics face when it comes to receiving care, Louisiana residents are at a loss when it comes to the healthcare system.
A report by Healthy Louisiana from the Louisiana Department of Health examined the differences of healthcare access across various demographics, surveying over 8,500 Louisiana households.
The key findings of Healthy Louisiana’s study were that white children are more likely to have health insurance coverage that meets needs and provides access to providers than Black children, and other races were found to fare worse than Black children. Also, that uninsured individuals are far less likely to have needs met and gain access to necessary providers than residents with any type of insurance.
Additionally, according to Healthcare Value Hub, the main disparities within Louisiana healthcare are prevalent when it comes to income, age, disability, insurance type, race, ethnicity and medical debt.
Health insurance in Louisiana
Uninsured rates and high costs are not the only health insurance problems within Louisiana, there are other issues revolving around types of coverage available and what type of coverage most residents have.
In 2021, The Louisiana Health Insurance Survey found that employer coverage and Medicaid coverage serve as the two biggest sources of coverage for Louisiana residents.
According to The Louisiana Health Insurance Survey, 48.1% of adults rely on employer coverage and 31.9% of non-elderly adults receive Medicaid coverage in Louisiana.
In relation to this, PBS reported that 40% of Louisiana residents rely on the state for medical care, meanwhile Louisiana remains one of the poorest states in the U.S.
Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@gannett.com
