Emily K. Brunson’s chapter examines how the ACA has unfolded in Texas, a state with significant popular and political sentiment against the law despite being home to the highest percentage of uninsured persons in the nation. Presenting longitudinal case studies of three previously uninsured women—some of whom were able to access insurance coverage following the ACA and some of whom fell into the coverage gap—Brunson shows how each person struggled with issues of choice, responsibility, and risk in relation to their health care. The chapter also considers how social class and gender affected these women’s experiences of the ACA. Brunson concludes that while the ACA has improved health care access and health outcomes for some Texans, it has also deepened inequalities by increasing stratification based on social class.
“Mind the Gap” in Children's Health Insurance Coverage: Does the Length of a Child's Coverage Gap Matter?