Armed with new data showing that the cost of health insurance in Texas is soaring seven times faster than incomes, the Texas Hospital Association and the National Federation of Independent Business/Texas pushed lawmakers to pass bills aimed at making healthcare more affordable and accessible. The Texas hospital and small-business groups voiced support for 25 bills that have been introduced this legislative session. Of those, five seek to restructure the state's high-risk insurance pool, which was created for people unable to qualify for Medicaid or Medicare or to secure private insurance.