Health care inequality is a global phenomenon that affects individuals and communities in different countries all over the world. The countries faced by this phenomenon have put up organizations that investigate and analyze the cause, effects, and ways to reduce this phenomenon. The investigations carried out in different countries portray some causes and effects which are similar showing that inequality in the health care sector is a great source of concern. In the United States of America, health care inequality is greatly influenced by differences in income, locality of people, races and ethnic differences.
Economic and income inequality has dramatically increased in the United States significantly affecting the health sector in the country leading to a great gap between the low income, middle income and high income in terms of getting health care services. A Foundation, the Affordable Care Act, was established to look at this issue and decrease this gap by providing medical insurance to the middle and low-income individuals, families and communities. After this foundation was established, NPR with collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public health carried out some investigations looking at peoples experience over the last two years to find out if any changes have occurred since APA was formed and positive results were seen. During this process, they found out that low-income families have some difficulties in getting access to health care facilities and services. According to Robert Blendon (Harvard University, 2016), emergency rooms in the health facility is mainly used by the low-income individuals and families because they cannot get the needed health care services they time they needed it. As this number increased day by day, the findings show that not only does the low income mainly uses the Emergency room but also the services and equipment in the emergency room is poor explaining the increased rate of death in the United States.
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Katherine Hempstead reports that there was a huge difference in the gap when APA began their mission to educate and give health insurance to people who had difficulty in accessing health facilities due to money challenges (Harvard University, 2016). Katherine also reports that despite issuing health insurance cover, there is a percentage of the low-income individuals who did not get the insurance. This means that there are other barriers despite lack of insurance that also results to the gap and poor health of low-income individuals as reported by Jackie (Harvard University, 2016) These barriers are as a result of meager income hence families moving from one location to another, one community to another to find affordable lifestyle dictated by their income. Therefore doctors and health officers are unable to keep track and record of these patients especially those with chronic diseases. The various foundation is currently looking for ways to assist these families with health services by putting up urgent community health facilities among the community and in areas where access to these facilities is difficult.
Environment and behavior of low-income individuals can significantly affect their health. Research shows that low income severe from chronic stress due to their low lifestyle leading them to start living unhealthy lives and start certain unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, taking drugs and alcohol reducing their lifestyle (Dhruv Khuller, 2018). This explains the statistics carried out which the results says that an old man, about sixty years of age, in the top half can expect to live 1.2 years longer than a man in the bottom half. The low income also lives in environments which are not pleasing and which does not support their health. Their lifestyle is based on very polluted and dense populated areas with their estates not well planned. This makes it impossible for them to take morning runs, walks and fresh foods accounting to their health issues.
Therefore, the US government and the national health faculty should consider other factors rather than health insurance that prevents low-income communities lack good health services. They should try to improve and rebuild their environments and putting up rehabilitation centers for the addicted as they put more awareness about the importance of their health. In conclusion not only should health payment and insurance be put into consideration but also other barriers preventing the low-income communities from getting the appropriate health such as environment and behavior and races and ethics among others to be put into considerations.
References
Harvard University. (2016, April 22) Health Care Inequalities in America: The Need For Continuing Forum [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nychm8M7uyM&feature=youtu.be
Khuller D. & Chokshi D.A. (2018). Health, Income & Poverty: Where We Are & What Could Help. Retrieved from https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hpb20180817.901935/full/
