There is a big difference in the access to healthcare in different demographics, especially when it comes to age. For existent, older people over the age of 65 receives the worse care. Medicare is a program that was implemented in 1960s, this source of coverage “remains to be the main source of health insurance for approximately two-thirds of the American people” (Williams & Torre, 2008). Medicare that is offered to them when they turn 65, but the coverage and care is not all that great. Most people that are elderly really do not understand the difference in the healthcare coverage. “Most elderly people are insured against health expenses through Medicare, but Medicare doses not provide complete insurance and some beneficiaries potentially
Improving the health of the socially and economically disadvantaged is a major task. Many Americans are living with poor health because of their socioeconomic statuses and it has many negative effects on their long term health. Improving access to health care is not enough to help fix the lower death rates among low income families. Our social status in our economy has large effect on our lives including how we are able to live our lives and in tern it has large measurable effects on our health. San Antonio is no exception, in low income areas the mortality rates by diabetes are stunning and need to be changed in order to help improve the lives of so many people. In my essay I will be proposing a plan to help lower
In today’s society, there is still a great struggle with health care disparities and many lives are affected by the lack of this fundamental program in our society. There are millions of people who die each year because they are unable to afford quality healthcare. The debate still continues about healthcare inequalities, what causes this disparity and who are affected by it. Health care is more of a necessity rather than a luxury and even though skeptics may argue to the latter, it only underlines the importance of the need for the wellbeing and care of individuals. There are several factors that could contribute to the lack of health care in the United States which ranges from but not limited to race, gender, socio- economic status, and lack of insurance coverage. The truth is there is a great disproportion between who can really afford quality healthcare as appose to individuals who have it. One would imagine that an employed individual would easily afford quality healthcare but we could be no further from the truth, since one’s economic status is an essential determinant to its affordability.
Healthcare disparities within racial minority groups are an ongoing issue in the United States. Factors that affect these disparities are overall quality of care, access to healthcare, and access to insurance. Numerous efforts have been made to decrease the access and quality of care for minorities. The current intervention being used is the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This act was initiated by President Obama in 2010 and has had much controversy in the past years. The main arguments are the ACA increasing the taxes for Americans and the fact that all Americans must obtain insurance if proper funds are available. In 2014 the ACA Medicaid expanded and each state had the opportunity to expand if the state believed it appropriate. Out of the 50
Although the overall health of the United States population has improved, large disparities in terms of health outcome and access to healthcare exist between wealthier Americans and their “poorer counterparts primarily because of differences in education, behavior, and environment.” (Longest, 2015, p8). Access to health care and other services is associated with wealth, employment, education and power. Higher education, which translates to higher income, allows people to buy healthier food, live in safer, cleaner neighborhood and access the best healthcare possible. Power on the other hand permits people to secure health for themselves and their families, while others without power have limited or no access to the resources they need to be
Many factors contribute to differing racial and ethnic health needs, including culture norms, religious mandates, and health disparities. The health disparities refers to specific differences in disease incidence, health outcomes, quality of health care and access to health care services that exist across racial and ethnic groups (Mandal, 2014). Disparities may result from inadequate access to care, poor quality of care, cultural issues and social determinants.
Health care is one of the most controversial and discussed topics in the United States. This is mainly because of the enormous issues that surround this subject matter, such as the goal of creating a greater diversity in the medical professions, the goal to reduce health care disparities, and mainly to improve health care for all. In my personal experience this issues have affected me and my family very closely. As immigrants, I saw my parents struggle with the language, adapting to a new culture and even seeking healthcare. Health care disparities is an imminent issue that affects many of us, including me. On top of the financial struggle my parents faced as immigrants, they also faced the barrier of not being understood. I witnessed how my
Americans seek healthcare to prevent, diagnose and treat most diseases. However many Americans do not get the coverage or practices that are guaranteed by the doctors oath. Insurance plays a major role on the type of care a person receives. It can also effect the type of medications prescribed by a doctor. The type of care can depend on if the individual seeking care has insurance or if they go to the community clinic for free healthcare.
One of the major obstacles for researchers in the field of Health Psychology and Aging is understanding the role of health disparities across different populations. Health disparities can be understood in terms of differences in some facet of health and well-being across different groups of people. The issue of health disparities across different populations is one that must be understood not only in the context of genetic and biological factors, but also in the context of a broader sociocultural perspective. The influence of health disparities are implied in the context of aging, but are discussed across the entire lifespan. The existence of health disparities in later life is often a product of a lifelong experience and life-course trajectory. This essay will address some of the major
Before beginning the WebQuest, I felt that it is ridiculous that health disparity is a common problem in the United States. Healthcare should be available to everyone who needs it and should not be so expensive that families go into debt because of their medical bills. Now, I did not believe health care should be free, but I did believe that there should be affordable insurance for individuals of all social classes. I would say there are many factors that can play a part in promoting my feelings, for example, I am a young white female that has never been without health care, and has no chronic illness. I also work in the healthcare system, which is a factor that could influence my attitude and view about this topic. After completing this assignment,
Very informative post Bonnie! No doubt, there is a shortage of primary care providers all over the United States and lack of insurance on top of that can make the conditions worse. In year 2006, the state of Massachusetts expand the insurance coverage of its population, but the healthcare workforce in unable to meet this high demand, which results in long waiting lists to see patients. The average time of getting on appointment with internist was 17 days in year 2005, which is increased to 31 days in year 2008, which increases both provider and patient frustration. This result in higher death and disease rates, higher disparity in health and higher emergency room visits. Many issues can be handled over the phone or via email, by a nurse or
Ottina, we live in a country where healthcare is a profitable business for the riches. I recall in Obamacare that the government subsidized the premiums for the poor and people below the poverty guidelines. I do not agree with that at all. The government could impel health insurance providers to lower the premiums in exchange for a tax cut. Instead, The Obamacare used tax dollars to pay hundreds of dollars for each citizen and bring more customers to healthcare providers and insurance providers.It would always be repealed by another government because of health disparities in this country. Race discrimination, poverty guidelines, and health statuses are linked. Health care should have been available to everyone regardless the income and the
The video from PBS titled The Good News in American Medicine portrays the importance of a successful and affordable health care system. Information in this film was factual and neutral because the health care physicians and leaders worked together through trial and error to create systems that were beneficial to many. The United States as a whole does not have the necessary elements that it requires to satisfy the health care needs of all citizens; health care is expensive and divided among many systems that differ in cost and availability. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, “The result is that the U.S. spends more per capita on health services than any other country in the world, but lags behind many other countries
The United States is world renowned for having the best health care if not the most accessible. Citizens have at their disposal a plethora of hospitals, physicians, and therapists to improve their well-being. Statistical data was taken back in 2010 under the Central Texas Region and studied health care coverage and income in regards to the community. The data displayed in the surveys heavily suggest that income/ health in general have a high correlation. The issue that arose with the given data imply that those who are on the lower end of the income spectrum subsequently have no health care coverage and poorer health than those with higher income. In any case with high correlation there are a number of factors influencing the statistical evidence, and in this case sociological barriers are present in regards of inequality and health care.
Government and organizations must change the social and economic situation of the poor so that health and prosperity reaches all peoples and not just a few. Market condition should not just favor the rich but training, employment, education and health access should be widened to benefit the low income people. Personal choice and responsibility play a key role in attaining and maintaining health. However, the choices people make depend on the choices they have. There is a growing body of research showing that when fresh produce markets and farmers markets with affordable food products, introduces nutritious foods and change consumption of fruits and vegetables in poor neighborhoods that have low SES (Morgan-Smith, 2007). This shows that we must think of policies and collaborative methods to create equitable systems. Community organizations, local health organizations and local government must collaborate on the issue.