Health Inequalities in the US

• Medicare is an important public health insurance scheme for US adults aged 65 years and older
• As of 2021, approximately 65 million Americans were covered by Medicare
• Medicaid is a joint federal and state health program which provides medical coverage to low-income individuals and families
• Medicaid is for children, adults under 65 years, seniors aged 65 years or older and disabled people
• Over 75 million Americans as of 2019 use Medicaid
• Factors that influence health insurance premiums: state and federal laws, type of insurance, income level, employer size, state of residence, type of community, country of residence, plan type, age, tobacco use
• Reasons for being uninsured: coverage not affordable (73.7%), not eligible for coverage (25.3%), do not need or want (21.3%), signing up was too difficult (18.5%) or can’t find a plan (18%)
• 30 million Americans dont live within an hour of trauma care
• 16% Of Americans are 30 miles+ from their nearest hospital
• Since 2010, 81 rural hospitals have been closed in the US
• 673 rural hospitals are at risk of losing in the US
• A “hospital desert” is an area without hospitals
• Not having free health care is a reason for health inequality in the US, as many can’t afford health insurance. For example, a study was conducted about people without insurance. 74% of people you don’t say it’s because they can’t afford it