Access to health care relates to the accessibility of
satisfactory health care resources in order to sustain or advance individual’s
heath. If assistance exists and there is an acceptable amount of services, then
the chance to obtain health care stay. Studies on healthcare established that
racial and ethnic minorities are less likely to obtain high quality care in
contrast to non-minorities, even when insurance status or income are regulated.
Eradicating disparities in access to health care is challenging because their
causes are closely related to the history of race relations in the United
States.
Several Key Facts
- AIDS cases among Hispanics and African Americans is three times and ten times higher than among White
- 36% of Latinos, 22% of African Americans, 17% of Asian Americans are uninsured compared to only 13% among Whites
- African Americans and Latinos less rely on doctors compared to Whites
- The accessibility gap between races did not change but remained steady or worsened over the past years
Important Health Care
Disparities
- Lack of Health Insurance
o
Minorities are more likely to lack health insurance
leading them to postpone health care or use unnecessary medication
- Lack of Financial Resources
o
Many minorities have a health insurance plan
that does not let them access to many the available services or limit the
number of providers available
- Irregular Source of Care
o
Minorities are more likely to be able to visit
the same doctor and more likely to use emergency rooms compared to the dominant
group
- Lack of Health Care Providers
o
The majority of ethnic and racial minorities
live in areas where the number of physicians and providers is low
Why Health Care
Accessibilities Matters?
- Ethnic and Racial Minorities deserve high-quality health care
- By 2050, the minority group will outnumber the dominant group
- Despite the large efforts to increase access to health care, gabs in health car are increasing instead of getting smaller
What Should Be Done
to Increase Access to Health Care?
- Increase Health Care Professional’s cultural sensitivity through Cultural Competency Training
- Increase public awareness of the health care gap
- Increase health insurance
- Improve the number and quality of providers and professionals in low served communities
- Increase the awareness of causes and intervention to increase health care accessibility
What Can The US Learn From Health Care Systems Around the World?
Reference List
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