According to Forbes Advisor, the ability to access healthcare in America largely depends on the state in which a person is seeking healthcare
The American healthcare system has long been tied to employment and is one of the most inefficient and costly in the developed world, which makes it challenging to navigate. According to a recent Gallup and West Health survey, 55% of adult Americans can access and afford quality healthcare when needed.
According to Forbes Advisor, the ability to access healthcare in America largely depends on the state in which a person is seeking healthcare. Furthermore, inequality also shapes who gets access to quality healthcare.
As Uché Blackstock, a medical doctor and thought leader on bias and racism in healthcare, writes in her recently released book, Legacy, Black and Latinx patients have a history of being denied equitable access to healthcare in America.
Using this rubric, the five states with the least access to healthcare are Utah, Nevada, Texas, Arizona, and Georgia.
Galarraga continued, offering potential solutions to the problem, “According to The Department of Health and Human Services, digital solutions such as telehealth can improve access to primary care by reducing barriers related to transportation and expanding the ability to offer services in languages other than English.”
Galarraga concluded, “Having the best health insurance can also increase access to and reduce the cost of essential healthcare. Uninsured adults are less likely than those with health coverage to receive preventive and screening services on a timely basis and are less likely to have a primary healthcare provider.”
Source: Black Enterprise