The last eight weeks have exposed me to different aspects of the U.S. healthcare system, and this has been an amazing experience. Of all the items under discussion, healthcare inequality is one issue that must be remembered. This write-up gives an account of my sentiments on this ever-prevalent issue. In going through the complexity surrounding the issue, I will delve into the causes of health disparity, examine my emotional response, look at the permanence of the problem in the U.S., and make recommendations.
The United States faces various manifestations of the haunting specter of healthcare inequality. Each one of these is alarming and demonstrates how this health system denies equal rights to health care. Zeira (2021) claims that gross inequalities exist in access to medical care due to socioeconomic position and differential health outcomes among different population groups. The most significant thing is how these disparities affect people’s actual lives. It isn’t about some abstract theory or statistic. It’s something that has a real effect on millions of people. Realizing that quality healthcare for me hinges on factors beyond my control, like money or place, evokes a feeling of unfairness. It is extremely painful to watch people suffer when they don’t have medical coverage that can help them prevent diseases or treat them. This is a heavy emotional load. This is not a hypothetical case that is discussed in classrooms and by various leaders; it is an everyday life experience of a large proportion of people. An emotionally charged ride made worse by coming face-to-face with the fact that access to health care, a primary element of human dignity and one that should be guaranteed to all, is not universal in the U.S. Such an emotional response is more than just the academic consideration of the problem. This is simply a gut response to stories about families having to make painful choices between medical bills and the daily bread, individuals postponing necessary treatment because they cannot afford it, or communities bearing a disproportionate share of totally preventable health inequalities. My empathy is not dry and theoretical, but my real feelings are in common with those who suffer from healthcare inequality. It creates a spirit of unity, which pushes me to call for fair distribution of healthcare facilities.
The same complexity encompasses the question of why healthcare inequality persists in the U.S. Aburto et al. (2022) state that economic disparities, inadequate insurance coverage, and systemic barriers are combined to sustain this problem. Additionally, profit motivation in the health sector usually comes first. Hence, this makes the matter even worse. The practice of linking health care with employment has been in existence for a long time. Those who may need steady jobs find it difficult to attain the required basic health care. # In addition, the dissonance within the American healthcare sector, which needs to be more cohesive, coordinated, and focused on the specialized approach to medical care, promotes the survival of health disparities among citizens. Health is determined by several factors that are related to society and the economy. Confronting healthcare inequality will require more than simply revamping the current healthcare system; it will require a wider social push to tear down the institutional walls contributing to these inequalities.
It is both difficult and necessary to look at possible ways to address healthcare inequality in the United States. The problems with the healthcare system go deep and require many-faceted solutions that cannot be reduced to mere cosmetic treatment. First, it entails instituting policies that emphasize preventive care, ensure affordable healthcare, and eradicate the stigma associated with mental health. As stated by Zeira (2021), preventative measures within the healthcare system may help address the root causes of chronic diseases, which will ultimately lead to a reduced overall burden of chronic diseases and improved global health outcomes. Another vital step is restructuring the healthcare system by putting patients’ outcomes first instead of profit margins. The change calls for a societal reorientation that positions health as a basic human right instead of a product. Also included in the solution are education on health disparities and community-based initiatives. Such awareness will, however, help to create a feeling among members of the society that they are all responsible for raising a collective effort to solve the problem.
The first course of action is to start accepting healthcare inequality, and this is the beginning of the positive changes that society should expect. This is an emotion generated from anger and compassion, which serves as a mechanism for advocacy and reform. The above-stated solutions could be used to eliminate the deep-rooted U.S. healthcare inequality. It entails the involvement of many actors, changes in societal values, and willingness to tear down the institutionalized barriers that perpetuate health inequality. This complex problem should be guided by justice, equality, and the basic rights to healthcare.
References
Abedi, V., Olulana, O., Avula, V., Chaudhary, D., Khan, A., Shahjouei, S., Li, J., & Zand, R. (2020). Racial, Economic, and Health Inequality and COVID-19 Infection in the United States. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 8(8). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-020-00833-4
Aburto, J. M., Tilstra, A. M., Floridi, G., & Dowd, J. B. (2022). Significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on race/ethnic differences in U.S. mortality. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(35). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2205813119
Zeira, A. (2021). Mental Health Challenges Related to Neoliberal Capitalism in the United States. Community Mental Health Journal, 58(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-021-00840-7
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