Essay On Health Care Inequality

1758 Words4 Pages

Health care inequality has long been customary in the United States. Those in lower classes have higher morbidity, higher mortality, higher infant mortality, and higher disability. Millions of low-income families and individuals have gone with out the care they need simply because they cannot afford it. Denial of benefits due to pre-existing conditions, outrageous deductibles, and unreasonable prescription prices are in large part why the low-income class suffers. In addition, not receiving preventative health care, lack of access to exercise equipment and lack of availability to fresh foods all create health problems that become to expensive to fix. Low-income families need to have better, more affordable access to health care, specifically preventative health care, and be more educated about the benefits of health care in order to narrow the gap of inequality. The new Affordable Care Act under the Obama administration expands heath care coverage to many low income families and individuals by lowering the eligibility requirements for Medicaid, although it is not mandatory for individual states to make this expansion for Medicaid coverage.(CITE) It also requires that preventative health care be included in coverage by insurance companies. So with all the benefits the expansion of Medicaid could offer, why would some states choose not to offer it?
Under the Affordable Care Act one of the most important provisions is to expand health care to low income families through Medicaid. This could have an effect on over eight million people who do not have access to health care currently. However 25 states have decided against expanding Medicaid benefits, leaving 13.5 million people less likely to receive basic health care and preventative ...

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...Medicaid covers. The allergy shots will not only help my severe year round allergies, they will help to control my asthma.
While there are some valid concerns with expanding Medicaid coverage, I think the benefits far out way the risks. Pregnant women will be able to receive the prenatal they need to deliver a healthy baby, reducing infant mortality rates. Millions of Americans can receive preventative care that can catch things like cancer in early stages. High blood pressure and diabetes can be better regulated in low-income individuals leading to fewer deaths caused by these diseases. Furthermore, millions of Americans will be able to afford the prescription medications they need. Every state that is opting out of the Medicaid expansion has a republican governor that is against the program. Maybe these states should care more about their residents than politics.

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