PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IN DALLAS TO PROMOTE HEALTHCARE

(AP) – President Barack Obama traveled to Dallas Texas to push his health care initiative.

Texas has one of the highest concentrations of uninsured people in the USA – with more than 670,000, or 28% of Dallas County’s population, uninsured.

Texas also is among the 36 states not providing their own insurance marketplaces, which means residents there must sign up through the federal website that stumbled badly upon its launch Oct. 1.

Obama’s visit will also underscore the obstacles the law faces in Republican states where governors such as Texas’ Rick Perry have refused to take advantage of a provision in the law that expands Medicaid to assist more of the working poor. More than 23 percent of Texas residents are uninsured.

President flew to Dallas on Wednesday, to meet and thank volunteers who are helping consumers learn about and enroll in medical coverage plans through health insurance marketplaces.

Obama visited Temple Emanu-El to join canvassers and navigators working with the Dallas Area Interfaith group.

The president later attended two Democratic fundraising events before departing.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins cheered President Barack Obama’s Dallas visit as a “big boost to our local efforts” to sign up residents for health insurance.