Is Health a Privilege in the US?

Having accessible healthcare services is probably one of the best aspects of living in a developed country. Whether it’s for an emergency, a routine checkup, or provided pharmaceuticals for our needs. Many countries like France, Great Britain, and Sweden have medical services provided for every citizen, no matter what income they make. These countries are all very comparable with the United States, both in our economy and development of a society.

US has healthcare, however, is a little trickier than simply walking in and out. The inequality in our healthcare system stands out and affects the health of our population in a negative way. People who earn middle to upper-middle class salaries experience more benefits towards receiving health care than those who live below them. This gap gives more room for disease and chronic illness to spread through and harm our citizens. Our general public is at risk in terms of our health. This brought me to an interesting inquiry, is health and healthcare in the United States a privilege?

Whether you’re rich or poor, healthcare can be expensive. According to the Health System Tracker’s report on High Out-of-Pocket Health Spending, over 40% of Americans spend $1,000 on their own medical needs after coverage a year, not including money spent on private insurance plans.1 These insurance plans are provided mostly through employee benefits and offered through government-subsidized plans. Although these subsidized coverage plans, like Medicare for lower-income families, cover some health expenses, many report that their coverage was much more limited and are very hard to get.

With private or subsidized insurance, companies will cover an 80/10 ratio in expenses. This means that a typical checkup will result in a $25 as copay in order for your insurance to cover you. America’s Debt Help Association concludes that persons without insurance, which is around 14%, result to paying $125 for the same visit.2 With that, the uninsured end up paying 5 times that amount people with private insurance pay, simply because they don’t qualify for coverage plans offered through the government and private sectors. Companies can turn down applicants based on health status, income, and a few other qualifications. Income seems to affect the access and use of insurance.

According to this graph provided by a Gallup article on insurance coverage varying by age and income, roughly 50 to 60% of low-income citizens between ages 21 to 45 are uninsured while higher-class citizens average over 90% being covered.3 This clearly shows the wage gap inequality in terms of health privilege.

People, like myself, growing up and living in an upper-middle class family never really think about the struggles and burdens not having healthcare access. When I developed a disorder known as Bipolar Disorder, I was able to go see a psychiatrist and therapist whenever I needed help. This is thanks to my private insurance provided by my mother’s employer. With private insurance, I was able to have the routine checkups and receive the proper pharmaceuticals whenever needed.

However, millions are in a position where this accessibility will result in bankruptcy if they had the same treatment I did without insurance. Randal Bovbjerg and Jack Hadley explain in their assessment Why Health Insurance is Important report that persons without private insurance get about “half as much care as the privately insured”.4

A study provided by them continues to say, “uninsured individuals were less likely to obtain any medical care [for an unintentional injury or new chronic condition], and if they did receive some initial care, they were more likely to get none of the recommended follow-up care”. These unsupervised, uninsured ill persons are 25% more likely to result in unpreventable death without healthcare, and result in 18,000 more deaths per year in the United States.

Having a high income in the United States gives you, and your family, the privilege of a healthier and safer lifestyle. This is often looked past us, as financially stable people, but citizens without these means are looked down upon us and our government, as we believe it is their respobsibility to achieve this privilege, as stated by an article provided by the Journal of Clinical Research and Bioethics.5 Until we realize how hard it is to gain this necessity in our lives, we will continue to have a country sick and bankruped, showing our lack of care for our citizens.

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