Rural Texas like most rural areas face greater instances of poverty along with a statistically older population. This makes it more probable, that these people cannot afford to move or travel extensively to receive medical care. This inability to travel extensively along with little healthcare infrastructure in these areas, the lowest health insurace rates in the nation, and a shortage of health care professionals create some of the worst healthcare outcomes in the country. As 187 of Texas' 254 counties are classified as rural, and it has the largest rural population in the country this issue effects a great number of people.