Final answer:
The disproportionate number of uninsured Texans of Latino descent is largely due to educational barriers, economic challenges, and discriminatory laws and practices that hinder access to affordable healthcare and government-funded services.
Step-by-step explanation:
The overrepresentation of Texans of Latino descent in the uninsured population is most likely due to a combination of economic, social, and legal factors. These include lower rates of high school graduation among Latino students, discriminatory practices that create barriers to healthcare, and immigration policies that limit access to government-funded services for noncitizens and undocumented individuals.
Data indicates that by the 1990s, 50% of Latino students in California's major cities did not graduate high school. This educational barrier is a significant factor contributing to higher rates of unemployment and poverty within the Latino community, which in turn affects their ability to afford healthcare. Furthermore, initiatives such as California's Proposition 187, which aimed to bar noncitizens and undocumented aliens from accessing public services including health clinics, exacerbate the issue by denying a safety net to those who cannot secure private insurance. The presence of racial discrimination in various aspects of life, including the healthcare system itself, also contributes to health disparities and a lack of insurance coverage among Latinos.
Despite increasing political representation and advocacy efforts by organizations like the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), these systemic challenges continue to impact the Latino population's health and access to insurance. The result is a disproportionate number of uninsured individuals among Texans of Latino descent.