The population of Asian Americans in Texas has grown at a faster rate than any other race or ethnic group over the past 20 years and state officials project this group to continue to outpace growth of any other race or ethnic group over the next 30 years. The first Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) caucus was introduced to the Texas legislature in 2023 to promote issues and policy specifically for the AAPI population in the state.
Within this changing landscape, Episcopal Health Foundation and SSRS conducted the Texas Health Tracking Survey with a specific focus on understanding the health care priorities of the AAPI adult population in the state including perspectives on health policy, experiences accessing and affording health care, and perspectives on non-medical drivers of health.
Results from the survey reveal high levels of support from AAPI Texans for Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Two-thirds (64%) of AAPI Texans support expanding Medicaid to cover more low-income people in the state. Additionally, just over half say the state is not doing enough to ensure its most vulnerable residents can get the health care they need including low-income adults (55%), children (54%), pregnant women (54%), and immigrants (52%).
Previous research shows that non-medical factors can impact individuals’ overall health. For AAPI residents in Texas, two major non-medical drivers of health emerge as major issues in this poll: affordable housing and public transportation.
