HealthInequality and Health

Inequality and Health

Poor people are less likely than wealthy Americans to receive adequate medical care.

The effects of poverty: Malnutrition Lack of health insurance Lack of access to health services

Facts

Children born to poor families are 3 times as likely than children born to wealthy families to have only fair or poor health.

Around 34 million Americans face hunger and cannot afford to buy food needed for a healthy diet.

More than 23% of poor children have NO health insurance

Facts

1/3 of the non-elderly low-income population does not have health insurance. What are some effects of not having

health insurance?▪ Preventative medicine and check-ups

The poor suffer disproportionately from diseases such as influenza, pneumonia, tuberculosis, alcoholism, and heart disease.

Health-Care Issues for today Costs, quality, and

access are major concerns for the United States.

There are several other health-care issues at stake as well: Health insurance Alternative Medicine AIDS

Health Insurance

80% or more of medical costs in the U.S. are covered by private or public insurance. Private: pay set periodic

fees, when you’re sick, insurance company pays bills; usually obtained through an employer.

Public: Medicare and Medicaid, provide coverage for elderly, disabled, and poor.

Health Insurance

MEDICARE/MEDICAID

Very uneven healthcare delivery.

The kinds of procedures and treatments covered and the levels to which they’re covered, vary greatly.

Some hospitals and doctors won’t take patients on Medicare/Medicaid.

PRIVATE

Are reluctant to offer care to those with pre-existing conditions.

Not affordable or available for majority for working poor.

About 16% of the population, or around 46 million Americans are uninsured.

Health Insurance- Suggestions for Improvement

National Health System, or Universal health care.

Medical care would be provided free, or nearly free of charge to all citizens, regardless of their incomes. This exists in Canada

and England. Mixed results. Why

might this not work?

Alternative Medicine

Includes: acupuncture, acupressure, biofeedback, massage, meditation, yoga, herbal remedies, and relaxation techniques.

Visits to alternative practitioners has been on the rise since the 1990s.

Concerns about Alternative Medicine

Doctors question the effectiveness of alternative treatments.

Herbal remedies and diet supplements don’t have to be FDA approved.

Some studies even claim alternative remedies can lead to kidney diseases and cancer.

Do you think these concerns are valid?

AIDS

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is a disease that attacks the immune system, leave a person vulnerable to a host of deadly infections.

As of 2008, about 491,000 Americans were living with AIDS and another 683,ooo were living with HIV—Human immune deficiency virus.

High Risk of becoming infected with AIDS

Homosexual and bisexual men, intravenous drug users, sexual partners of high-risk persons, persons receiving blood transfusions, and the babies of high-risk mothers.

AIDS in the U.S.

Some claim the U.S. doesn’t do enough to respond to the AIDS crisis. Has made laws that

provide research, education and prevention, and treatment.

In 2000, the governments spent $10 billion on AIDS, 70% of it on treatment and assistance.

Advancements

The number of new AIDS cases in the U.S. has been on the decline.

New drugs slow the progress of HIV have been used in AIDS treatment.

AIDS deaths have decreased, and number of people living with AIDS has increased.

5th-leading cause of death among Americans between the ages of 25 and 44.

AIDS, a global epidemic

Over 21 million people have died worldwide.

Over 34 million people are living with it.

Sub-Saharan Africa is the hardest-hit region of the world. There, 6,350 people die

per day from AIDS. Life expectancy there of

47. Devastating effects on

Africa, impacting the number of workers, and economic growth as well.