The Disabled And Mentally Disabled Youth Transitioning For Adults Experience Improper Health Care

Section 504 stipulates rather broadly that a person with a disability is “one who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life functions, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment” (US Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division Disability Rights Section). Because impairments are not specifically named, these laws are open to interpretation and qualify anyone in need of

Over forty million Americans are disabled, whether it is a physical, sensory, cognitive, or mental disability. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act was signed into law in 1973. This law states that no handicapped individual shall be disqualified from partaking, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program receiving federal financial assistance. The foundation of the Section 504 is from the language of preceding civil rights laws that sheltered women and minorities. Section recognizes that history proves that humanity has treated people with disabilities as second-class citizens based on previous stereotypes. These types of attitudes have translated into policies based on paternalism. Section has acknowledged

As of 2008, there are approximately 73.9 million children living in the United States. Of these children more that 5.5 million have some form of mental or physical disability. In addition, 77 percent of uninsured children come from low-income families (CoverTheUninsured.org, 2008). However, Missouri’s population of uninsured children fares much better at almost half the national average or 7.2 percent (Missouri Foundation for Health, 2004). More than 8 million children in America are uninsured. That means 1 out of every 10 does not have any form of health coverage. Racial and ethnic disparities among those uninsured children are dramatic. Most recent data has found that one in 13 White children is uninsured compared to: one in five American Indian children, one in six Latino children, one in nine African American children, one in nine Asian/Pacific Islander children. (Children’s Defense Fund, 2010)

Vulnerable populations is a term that creates an image of distinct and narrow-minded minority though the vulnerability of every individual to illness, disease, and injury has made health insurance necessary and probable for a huge portion of the American population. Vulnerable populations in the United States includes parents and children of immigrants, race/ethnic minorities, the disabled poor, the elderly, foster children, families ineligible for welfare, prison inmates and former offenders, children with special care needs, and residents of rural areas. However, the uninsured population has developed to become one of the vulnerable populations in the United States because of the risks and dangers associated with the lack of health insurance. As a result of the increased of the number of the uninsured, they have a huge financial impact on the vulnerable population.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 49 million Americans without healthcare insurance and more than 10 million are non-U.S. citizens (http://www.census.gov). Because many people are uninsured and those that do have insurance pay high deductibles, Americans often dismiss the need for doctor’s visits for minor problems or annual physicals. As a result, health problems that can be detected at an early stage or prevented altogether become major illnesses. Individuals with disabilities hold one of the biggest weaknesses in the healthcare system because they cannot often obtain affordable health coverage.

Though the American healthcare system has made big steps towards providing affordable healthcare for everyone, there remains a growing population of people who fall through the system’s cracks. These people are the medically underserved. They are typically the victims of unfortunate life circumstances that has left them without health insurance, or with insurance that provides inadequate coverage. The underserved also includes those who have trouble accessing healthcare for any reason. Anyone with illnesses or disabilities that require assistance beyond their coverage, or people who live in remote areas where healthcare services are sparse fall under this title. The term also does not exclude those who have sufficient insurance and resources, but struggle to understand and navigate our increasingly complex system of healthcare.

The United States is faced with multiple health disparities within the country that encompass many challenges for individuals when it comes to the fairness and access to health care. A health disparity is defined as the inconsistency of treatment between two different groups of individuals. Treatment that could be different could be seen as different care due to age, race, ethnicity, culture, or current socioeconomic status (Koh et al., 2012). Treatment may be harmful for individuals as a result of miscommunication that may be perceived the wrong way. Individuals with low health literacy do not understand the purpose of particular drugs or the name of one’s condition, which can further leave an individual vulnerable to harm. Individuals may sign consent they do not fully understand, and will receive unwanted care and procedures (Clark, 2011). Healthcare providers need to be aware of an individual’s level of understanding before harming the individual with irreversible procedures.

For decades, a person’s socioeconomic status or SES has affected the healthcare that people receive due to race and “wealth”. This problem has plagued American society because of these factors leading to many receiving inadequate healthcare. All of these factors for someone’s SES has changed a lot in the healthcare domain that is unfair to many who are not the “ideal”. Due to this the perception, experiences with healthcare waver and are different between the stages of these SES’s. No matter the status of a person they should receive the same amount of care, treatment, and closer.

Mitchell (2015) discovered that, compared to white Americans, those who are uninsured or underinsured tend to lack regular sources and access to care and receive poor quality of care. About 50% of these individuals are “in lower socioeconomic brackets [with] limited education in historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, who have . . . experienced oppression, discrimination, and social and economic inequalities. [Consequently,] they experience higher rates of disease,

The big issue with healthcare is the quantity and quality care. The victims that are punished and receive low quality care are low income families(NAHQ,2014). Socioeconomic status plays a large role in health treatment and diagnosis(ESSENTIAL). The quality care gap between low income individuals and the high income individuals makes the healthcare very controversial. One of the biggest debates that are discussed during elections are healthcare policies. Low income families that are highly prone to more variables such as poor air qualities, exposed water contamination such as the Flint Michigan and much more. The correlation for these low income families often avoid going to doctors before a larger health issue is presented due to many factors such as time and

Without healthcare coverage, these children with disabilities and their parents would not be able to afford the medications that have helped them survive into adulthood (White, 2002). Children with disabilities could be place under their parents’ health care insurance or they could qualify for Medicaid on their own due to their disabilities. Medicaid is a health care program designed to help individuals with long-term care who are low-income so they families can apply for it.

In 2009, the number of people without insurance was estimated at 50.7 million (Health Policy, 2013). Many individuals and families have limited access to adequate health care services ultimately due to disparities in health and health care in America. Poor health outcomes and lower quality health care have been the result of unending disputes in disparities. Disparities are viewed as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, location, gender, disability status, and sexual orientation. Disparities have been recorded for many eras and, even with thorough changes in population health over a while, many disparities have continued and, in some basic facts, enlarged (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2012). These populations have a tendency to not get preventive care or early intervention services and use more expensive services such as, the emergency room. In the past, health care for the poverty-stricken have been governed more as a welfare program. This has contributed to large disparities throughout the nation in who among the underprivileged has access to what types of medical services. As private and

Serious, or Chronic, Illness and disabilities affect nearly 72 million working age adults, which is 39 percent of the working population in the United States (Tu and Cohen 2009). Chronic illnesses are ailments that are protracted, do not resolve spontaneously, and are rarely cured completely (Centers for Disease Control, 2009). Similar to chronic illness, disabilities tends to be a longer-term condition. The Americans with Disabilities Act defines people as disabled if they have an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such an impairment, or are regarded as having such an impairment (1991).

Serious, or chronic, illness and disabilities affect nearly 72 million working age adults, which is 39 percent of the working population in the United States (Tu and Cohen, 2009). Serious illnesses are ailments that are protracted, do not resolve spontaneously, and are rarely cured completely (Centers for Disease Control, 2009). Similar to serious illness, disabilities tend to be longer-term conditions. The Americans with Disabilities Act defines people as disabled if they have an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such impairment, or are regarded as having such impairment (United States Department of Labor, 1996).

Problems with accessing health care services affect populations in the United States disproportionately (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2014). According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 4.5% of the United States population on whole in 2011 experienced difficulty obtaining necessary medical care. Those who identified with two or more races had a higher rate of 4.5%. This rate is even higher when considering family income. Of persons whose family incomes were below the Poverty Threshold, 7.0% were unable to obtain or were delayed in obtaining necessary medical care. For comparison purposes, the prevalence was only 3.0% among those who have an income that is 600% of the Poverty Threshold.