April 20, 2014
SOC320: M7A1
The Poor vs. Health Care It is prudent to keep in mind that the current system leaves million Americans without health insurance. There are many factors contributing to the poor care quality. Healthcare is too expensive already and barriers just contribute to Americans not getting proper medical care. Americans want the best possible healthcare they can get and they are demanding a basic necessity insurance coverage despite their circumstances. Health care insurance needs to be simplified. In this research paper, I will examine the disparities of poor and low income individuals and the effects that it has on the minority community and the health care system. Poor health and inadequate health care are often related to human rights violations; violation that under fulfillment of human rights are often due to poor health and lack of access to health care. The link is direct in the case of other basic social and economic human rights such as the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of oneself, and one’s family. Nevertheless, poverty and lack of health protection are indirectly linked to failures to secure civil rights. In the U.S. budgets are designed with the poor in mind, yet the money that is allotted to assist them never materializes or finds its way to where it will be most useful. There is always some other issue that is more important than assisting those who need help. Multiple studies had shown that racial and ethnic minorities experience a lower quality of health care services and are less likely to receive routine medical procedures than are white Americans. Minorities are also more likely to be uninsured, live in poverty, and be exposed to environmental hazards at home and on the job. Low-income households without access to government or private sector charity programs may be particularly impacted by rising health
References: Access to Health Care in America: A Model for Monitoring Access (2010). National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved April 19, 2014 from http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=2009&page=31 Copeland, V. (2010) African Americans: Disparities in Health Care Access and Utilization. Questia Media America. Retrieved April 19, 2014 from http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=Mc7TQMFwq1cnz7vG8XjLSMdd WsGJdJTG6pY31QlWf19BQmhQv1Tv!-1082217001!547733517?docId=5010849171 Effects of Health Care Spending on the U.S. Economy. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Retrieved April 19, 2014 from http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/costgrowth/ Health Insurance Essential for Health and Well-Being (2010). Retrieved April 19, 2014 from http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12511 Mullner, R. and Giachello, A. (2010). Health Care Access: Financial Access Barriers, Institutional Access Barriers, Other Access Barriers, Final Thoughts. Net Industries. Retrieved April 19, 2014 from http://www.jrank.org/cultures/pages/3953/Health-Care- Access.html#ixzz0rJnY53uP (N.D). Health Care: Health Reform. Retrieved April 19, 2014 from http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/health-care Scott, J. (2005). Life at the Top in America Isn 't Just Better, It 's Longer. The New York Times. Retrieved April 19, 2014 from http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/16/national/class/HEALTH- FINAL.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1 Six Medicaid Directors Selected for Medicaid Leadership Institute (2010). Center for Health Care Swift, M. (2010).Are there enough doctors? Daily Record, Ellensburg, WA. Retrieved April 19, 2014 from http://dailyrecordnews.com/news/article_1757f50a-7b44-11df-8c09- 001cc4c002e0.html