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The gap between the poor and the rich in the united states of america
Healthcare inequality in america
The causes of inequality in health care
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In the United States, about 44 million people have no health insurance, while another 38 million have an inadequate health insurance (“Healthcare Crisis”). This means that about a third of Americans wake up every day knowing that if they fall sick, they would not be able to procure the medical attention they need at an affordable cost. In wake of such statistics, many people argue that the US is lacking in providing these people with free or affordable healthcare that they need, as the UN and WHO recognize healthcare as a human right (Sherrow 31). On the other hand, many people also think that it puts unreasonable burdens on the government, and therefore the people while paying taxes, all while robbing people of their freedom of choice as to …show more content…
According to a new paper in the journal Health Affairs, 38.2% of the poorest third of Americans reported a fair or poor health, compared to only 12.3% of the richest third. This income-based disparity in healthcare is one of the worst ones when compared to 11 similar countries, including Britain, France, and Norway (Khazan). The health of the financially challenged is the central indicator for progress as, "the test for our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have little" (Roosevelt). A healthy population is key to the progress of the entire country as a good health is the most important possession one can …show more content…
While “the healthiest 50% [of the population] consumes only 3% if the nation’s health care cost, the sickest 5% consume 50 % of it” (Amadeo). This connotes that even though a small minority of Americans are sick enough to require considerable resources from a health insurance, everyone else in the country would have to pay a part of their expenses. The ensuing expenses would be unfair, especially to the indigent part of the population, as they would have to bear the brunt of paying for a stranger’s medical bills despite being financially challenged
Healthcare in the United States is an extremely often discussed topic on whether it is morally a right or just a charity to those who cannot afford it. Plenty claim that health care is too expensive and not affordable so they demand aid from the government. On the other hand, the rest presume that the state is not morally accountable to take this type of action, since not every citizen and human being is equally eligible to receive the same healthcare.
Health disparity is one of the burdens that contributes to our healthcare system in providing equal healthcare to everyone regarding of race, age, race, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status to achieve good health. Research reveals that racial and ethnic minorities are likely to receive lower quality of healthcare services than white Americans.
America is known for democracy, freedom, and the American Dream. American citizens have the right to free speech, free press, the right to bear arms, and the right to religious freedom to name a few. The Declaration of Independence states that American citizens have the rights including “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” America promises equality and freedom and the protection of their rights as outlined in the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. But with all the rights and freedoms that American citizens enjoy, there is one particular area where the United States seems to be lacking. That area is health care. The United States is the only industrialized nation that doesn’t have some form of legal recognition of a right to health care (Yamin 1157). Health care reform in the United States has become a major controversy for politicians, health care professionals, businesses, and citizens. Those in opposition to reform claim that health care is not a human right, therefore the government should not be involved. Supporters of reform believe that health care is most definitely a human right and should be available to everyone in the United States instead of only those who can afford it, and that it is the government’s responsibility to uphold that right.
In recent years, the number of Americans who are uninsured has reached over 45 million citizens, with millions more who only have the very basic of insurance, effectively under insured. With the growing budget cuts to medicaid and the decreasing amount of employers cutting back on their health insurance options, more and more americans are put into positions with poor health care or no access to it at all. At the heart of the issue stems two roots, one concerning the morality of universal health care and the other concerning the economic effects. Many believe that health care reform at a national level is impossible or impractical, and so for too long now our citizens have stood by as our flawed health-care system has transformed into an unfixable mess. The good that universal healthcare would bring to our nation far outweighs the bad, however, so, sooner rather than later, it is important for us to strive towards a society where all people have access to healthcare.
Despite the established health care facilities in the United States, most citizens do not have access to proper medical care. We must appreciate from the very onset that a healthy and strong nation must have a proper health care system. Such a health system should be available and affordable to all. The cost of health services is high. In fact, the ...
In recent discussions of health care disparities, a controversial issue has been whether racism is the cause of health care disparities or not. On one hand, some argue that racism is a serious problem in the health care system. From this perspective, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) states that there is a big gap between the health care quality received by minorities, and the quality of health care received by non-minorities, and the reason is due to racism. On the other hand, however, others argue that health care disparities are not due to racism. In the words of Sally Satel, one of this view’s main proponents, “White and black patients, on average don’t even visit the same population of physicians” (Satel 1), hence this reduces the chances of racism being the cause of health care disparities. According to this view, racism is not a serious problem in the health care system. In sum, then, the issue is whether racism is a major cause of health care disparities as the Institute of Medicine argues or racism is not really an issue in the health care system as suggested by Sally Satel.
is the wealthiest country in the world and yet it is the only major industrialized country in the world that does not guarantee health care as a right to its citizens. Around 45,000 uninsured Americans die each year(What The U.S.). As a nation built upon the ideals of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” and the idea that the government is responsible for protecting it’s people’s basic rights, it is a great source of shame that the U.S. does not have universal health care. It is the government’s job to ensure it’s citizens’ rights, not make a profit off their suffering and the denial of one of their basic rights. Universal health care could save lives and ease suffering, physically, financially, and emotionally. It would take away a great financial burden off of each individual as well as the nation and government as a whole by not wasting all the per capita that we currently waste without universal health care. It would even be beneficial to capitalism because people would be more willing to take risks without the fear of having to go medically uninsured (Why The U.S.). By allowing its people to suffer and die, especially just to make a profit that will be needlessly wasted anyway, the U.S. government is committing a great immorality. Are not human lives more important than allowing greedy independent companies make a profit off of their suffering and deaths? As a country that is even willing to go to wars to protect the basic rights of foreign peoples,
In America the affordability and equality of access to healthcare is a crucial topic of debate when it comes to one's understanding of healthcare reform. The ability for a sick individual to attain proper treatment for their ailments has reached the upper echelons of government. Public outcry for a change in the handling of health insurance laws has aided in the establishment of the Affordable Healthcare Law (AHCL) to ensure the people of America will be able to get the medical attention they deserve as well as making that attention more affordable, as the name states. Since its creation, the AHCL has undergone scrutiny towards its effects on the government and its people; nevertheless, the new law must not be dismantled due to its function as a cornerstone of equal-opportunity healthcare, and if such a removal is allowed, there will be possibly detrimental effects on taxes, the economy, and poor people.
Healthcare disparities are when there are inequalities or differences of the conditions of health and the quality of care that is received among specific groups of people such as African Americans, Caucasians, Asians, or Hispanics. Not only does it occur between racial and ethnic groups, health disparities can happen between males and females as well. Minorities have the worst healthcare outcomes, higher death rates, and are more prone to terminal diseases. For African American men and women, some of the most common health disparities are diabetes, cancer, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and HIV infections. Some factors that can contribute to disparities are healthcare access, transportation, specialist referrals, and non-effective communication with patients. There is also much racism that still occurs today, which can be another reason African Americans may be mistreated with their healthcare. “Although both black and white patients tended not to endorse the existence of racism in the medical system, African Americans patients were more likely to perceive racism” (Laveist, Nickerson, Bowie, 2000). Over the years, the health care system has made improvements but some Americans, such as African Americans, are still being treating unequally when wanting the same care they desire as everyone else.
Health care can benefit everyone and their different income values. Health care should be required and the risk of spending on insurance should be taken even if many Americans believe they do not need health insurance. There are always possibilities of emergencies occurring and in need of insurance for the high costs of medical care. I personally believe and argued my opinion that health care needs to be required for everyone. To conclude my argument, I have argued that there are more benefits to have healthcare insurance required and that everyone in America deserves a happy and healthy
This essay will examine the article “Wealth begets health: Why universal medical care only goes so far” written by Andre Picard for The Globe and Mail in 2013. The article discusses various aspects of how an individual’s income can often be a crucial determinant of their health. It also discusses that even with equal access to healthcare, individual’s with lower incomes are more likely to experience health problems and are more likely to die at a younger age than those with higher incomes (Raphael, 2010). The main argument that Picard discusses in the article is that even with universal medical care there are still wide gaps between the health of low-income and high-income people. This is an important issue because many of
Health insurance facilitates entry into the health care system. Uninsured people are less likely to receive medical care and more likely to have poor health. Many Americans are foregoing medical care because they cannot afford it, or are struggling to pay their medical bills. “Adults in the US are more likely to go without health care due to cost” (Schoen, Osborn, Squires, Doty, & Pierson, 2010) Many of the currently uninsured or underinsured are forced accept inferior plans with large out-of-pocket costs, or are not be able to afford coverage offered by private health insurers. This lack of adequate coverage makes it difficult for people to get the health care they need and can have a particularly serious impact on a person's health and stability.
A contentious issue exists in the United States over the question of universal health care. Universal health care refers to system of health care in which all citizens of a given country receive medical coverage and care. Many find this system to be unnecessary and do not like the idea for paying for other people’s coverage, while others support universal health care because more people will be able to receive medical service. This is an ethical issue because the question is raised whether an institution, such as private businesses or the government, should be required to provide medical care to all citizens. Many see the role of medical institutions as providing care to anyone who walks through their door, but this is difficult if that person
Most everyone can agree that just because people are of low-income, it does not mean they are not entitled to quality care. Studies have shown that the wealthier Americans receive significantly better care and have a higher life expectancy. Based on a study conducted by Terrence Hill and Andrew Jorgenson at the University of Arizona, one can anticipate the average working-class female American to reach seventy-six years of age (2). In comparison, a wealthy, upper-class female averages a life expectancy of eighty-three years. How is it that the wealthy manage to outlive the working-class by nearly six years? Another example of quality care affecting the less fortunate Americans is our neighbors to the North. Canadians, who have adopted a universal health care system, have a higher life expectancy compared to Americans (Armstrong xiv). When Canada began to see a surge in medical costs, at the same time as the United States, their citizens pushed for an implement of universal health care. Ever since, Canada’s wealthy and poor visit the same doctors, same hospitals, and receive the same treatment (Armstrong 4). Both never receive a bill either. Americans see this as free loading and, quite possibly, unfair to the wealthy. But going twenty-five years strong, this health act was made with health care being a basic right, not a privilege. The many advantages that will change the everyday lives of Americans do carry a very unappealing downside. Realistically, no one wants to pay more in taxes. However, that will happen with an implementation of universal health care. One of the most prominent promises of the 2016 Democratic candidate, Bernie Sanders, was to provide health care for all with a single tax payer system. According to economist Gerald Friedman at the University of Massachusetts, the overall tax increase on every American would be a 2.2% increase on income-tax and a 6.2 percent
Upon reading the text, I was disappointed that in the 21st century access to basic resources for survival in health prevention is significantly impeded by the availability of finances. It is sad that health care has reached a point where people are anxious regarding the need to access care without having money. Anxiety aroused as I continued to read about the inequality in the health care system. I was perplexed that inequality is still in existence and questioned myself regarding freedom and unity for all in a country. Not everyone is able to afford healthcare and also higher education, this raises the question of the ability of the poor to overcome their poverty. They are unable to access the resources they need, as a result their life expectancy