Health Care

You might know . . .

Health care costs are rising.

But maybe you’ve never thought about . . .

Millions of Americans live without health insurance—just one medical emergency away from financial disaster. Our current system ensures that only those with the most privilege will receive the best care. Food deserts—areas where people have limited access to a variety of healthful and affordable food—are most often found in the poorest parts of our communities, and they contribute to health disparity. Women and children are particularly disadvantaged, and the infant mortality rate in the U.S. is alarmingly high. Health risks for women are exacerbated when women are denied access to safe and affordable reproductive health care and when women’s rights are curtailed.

“The United States is the only major country on Earth not to guarantee healthcare to all people as a right. . . . We’ve got to go further . . . and say that if you are an American, you are guaranteed healthcare as a right, not a privilege.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders

13% of adults aged 18–64, or 25.1 million people, are uninsured (as of 2015).

Source: Prison Policy Initiative

 

An ER visit will cost the uninsured person greater than $800, and 60% of visits cost greater than $1,550.

Source:  Public Library of Science

Per capita lifetime health care costs for women are 34% higher than for men.

Source: Health Services Research

 

The USDA’s Food Access Research Atlas and Food Environment Atlas will show you statistics on food environment around the country, including the
location of food deserts in your city.

 

The infant mortality rate in the United States is approximately 5.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, which is higher than other developed countries, for example, Iceland: 2.1; Singapore: 2.4; South Korea: 3.0; Germany: 3.4, Denmark: 4.0; Canada: 4.6.

Source:  Central Intelligence Agency

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Contact your congressional representatives and senators, and ask them to sponsor and support legislation for universal, affordable health coverage for all Americans. See page 145 for a helpful guide to contacting your representatives.
• Donate money and volunteer your time at the free clinics in your community.
• Donate fresh produce, not just nonperishable and packaged goods, to your local food pantry. Do it often.

63% of Americans don’t have enough savings to cover a $500 emergency.
Source: Forbes

 

REFLECTION & JOURNAL SPACE

• When was your family’s last health emergency? What sort of care did you receive? How did you cover the costs?
• In what way is your health, and your access to health care, a privilege? Are you able-bodied? Can you afford a doctor’s visit if you get sick or injured? Do you have access to fresh, healthful food you can afford?
• Is health care a human right? What are the consequences of saying it is? What are the consequences of saying it isn’t?