Barriers to Healthcare for Minorities in the US
Health Insurance
While having health insurance is important, simply just having it does not solve disparity problems. Disparity arises with the type of insurance. Cheap, not good insurance means high premiums and out of pocket costs. Minorities commonly fall into low income households where these expenses cannot be handled, therefore, deterring them from receiving healthcare. Only 48% of African Americans were offered employer-sponsored insurance versus 70% of whites. [1] Access to Usual Healthcare
Lack of good insurance among minorities ultimately leads to them not consistently going to the doctor for usual care as a "medical home". Having usual care allows for trust to be built between doctors and patients so they can ask questions. It also discourages going to the ER for managing chronic illnesses or simple illnesses. Trips to the ER are not cost friendly. [2] Poor Clinical Encounters
When minorities do go to the doctor, they feel discriminated by the doctors for their race, income, and type of insurance. This discrimination discourages them to consistently go back for care because they do not receive non-judgmental/equal care compared to white people. Providers perceive minorities as "less educated and less compliant" than whites, so they give them lesser care. 44% of African Americans felt discriminated at the doctors compared to only 3% of white people. [1] |
Citations
[1]: Brown, Joyce D., Disparity in Healthcare Among Black Americans in the United States, A Review of the Literature, 2012.
[2]: US Department of Human and Health Services , National Healthcare Disparities Report § (2007).
[2]: US Department of Human and Health Services , National Healthcare Disparities Report § (2007).