Description
Topic 6 DQ 1
Answer
There are many arguments and much research that demonstrates the failing healthcare
system for urban America. Researching the issue of failing healthcare, develop a list of
historic as well as contemporary healthcare inequalities and consider how you
agree/disagree. Provide support to your arguments. Historically, what has been done to
help alleviate this social problem? What are some effective modern-day solutions being
proposed? Explain why they are effective.
Reply to
RayIsha Lee
1-Mar 22, 2022, 10:45 PM
Hello Class,
Healthcare reform has been a popular topic throughout the last few decades. Historically, inequalities have been based
on race as well as gender. Women can be seen as “dramatic” or “overreacting” when reporting health issues. This still
continues and I have experienced this first hand. Income also plays a factor in healthcare inequalities (DeSalvo &
Kadakia, 2021). If an individual does not work or is self-employed, they would be unable to obtain medical insurance
at a small rate through employers. At times, even co-pays with insurance can add up if an individual has serious health
issues and needs the care. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed under the Obama administration and is often
referred to as “Obamacare”. The purpose of the ACA was to make healthcare more accessible to those who were at a
disadvantage (DeSalvo & Kadakia, 2021). While the idea of affordable and accessible healthcare is one that everyone
should stand behind, many Americans were actually against it. There is no denying that the ACA has assisted those that
otherwise would have been left behind. The real issue, as addressed, is that the price tag on healthcare continues to
increase (DeSalvo & Kadakia, 2021). ACA worked to close the gap between those that do not have to worry about
getting regular check-ups and those who would wait in an ER lobby to be seen.
Respectfully,
Rayisha
References:
DeSalvo, K. B., & Kadakia, K. T. (2021). Public Health 3.0 After COVID-19—Reboot or Upgrade? American Journal of
Public Health, 111(S3), S179–S181. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.2105/ajph.2021.306501
Reply to
Mallory Kraemer
2-Mar 21, 2022, 5:21 PM
Hello class!
Healthcare inequality has been a major topic for many years. There have been many attempts to fix the issue of
healthcare inequality. People who are unemployed or earn a low income often have state provided insurance if they
are accepted for this. Some historical healthcare inequalities that still exist today are due to income inequalities, costs
of healthcare increasing, and lack of access to affordable health insurance (Amadeo, 2022). There issues have
continued to exist.
If unable to earn a fair income, a person may be unable to afford medical appointments and visits due to the high cost
of medical insurance and may not take care of themselves and their health needs. The cost of healthcare is expensive
and continues to increase annually. In turn, this can create extremely high medical debt causing people to struggle,
decrease their credit scores, and prevent people from making purchases and continuing to move forward in their lives
or have high debts to pay monthly. Along with this, many companies are not required to provide medical insurance to
their employees if employing below a specific amount of people. If employees are then required to purchase insurance
through the healthcare marketplace, people may not purchase due to the high costs and premiums. These issues are all
very valid and will continue to exist.
There have been attempts to end healthcare inequality such as the Affordable Care Act, which has provided health
insurance to many people. Prior to the Affordable Care Act, many people went without insurance and did not take care
of themselves which ended in the loss of around forty-five thousand people across the United States (Amadeo, 2022).
This did provided insurance and help to those who were able to receive insurance through the Affordable Care Act.
A proposed idea that has been talked about for a very long time and is successful in other countries is universal
healthcare. This would provide fair and affordable access to medical assistance to all people without the high costs of
insurance premiums and copays. This would also help to prevent people from neglecting their medical needs and
ensuring that they are able to receive healthcare as needed. Universal health care would require medication costs to be
regulated and negotiating through the government thus lowering the costs of many medications that only insurance
covered (Amadeo, 2022). Though this may be a very useful and successful method to fix healthcare inequality, this has
potential to cause other problems within the healthcare world.
I do support the idea of universal healthcare and believe it may benefit many people. It would be effective in aiding
those who have not been able to access healthcare when needed and necessary. It would also help patients receive fair
treatment no matter their status or insurance coverage.
Mallory Kraemer
Reference
Amadeo, K. (2022). How health care inequality increases costs for everyone. The Balance. Retrieved March 21, 2022,
from https://www.thebalance.com/health-care-inequality-facts-types-effect-solution-4174842
Week 6 CAT
3-Answer
Name one thing that you learned about your selected social problem that you did not know before or
that you would not have guessed.
Reply to
Elizabeth Mahon
4-Mar 21, 2022, 1:26 PM
Professor and class,
Health inequality is when a group of people in an economy is in much worse health than another group, with limited
access to care (Amedeo, 2022). One of the biggest contributing factor to this problem is that of income and insurance
coverage held by the individuals. Because the United States relies so heavily on private health insurance, those with
corporate sponsored coverage have better access to healthcare.
Those living in poverty are more likely to be sick, they do not necessarily have access to quality hospitals and
physicians, the cost of health care is rising, they may not have access to health insurance and even age can cause a
social problem of healthcare inequality.
Healthcare Inequality affects us all as it causes a rise in health care costs. There have been some attempts to make
healthcare more equal across the board. The Affordable Care Act was an attempt that was not necessarily well received
by people. It was an attempt to give everyone access to quality insurance at an affordable rate. During President
Obama’s term in office, it was a requirement that every US Citizen have health insurance and would face a monetary
penalty if they did not. This still created a hardship for some people however and therefore, did not do much to solve
the problem.
Other attempts have been put into place. One of them being The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act.
With this act, the emergency room is required to treat anyone seeking treatment regardless if they have insurance or
not. Although this is helpful in the event of an emergency, most people see that it would be better if their health did not
get to a state of emergency.
Although the United States does not currently have a Universal Healthcare program in place, it would greatly benefit
from having one in effect. This would compel hospitals and physicians to treat patients equally across the board
regardless of their ability to pay.
Blessings,
Elizabeth
REFERENCES:
Amedeo, Kimberly. 2022. Healthcare Inequality in the US: Healthcare Inequality Correlates with Income
Inequality. Retrieved March 21, 2022 from https://www.thebalance.com/health-care-inequality-facts-types-effectsolution-4174842
Kingsley, T. (2014). Diagnosing the current problems of the united states health care system requires examining the
history of health reform. Kennedy School Review, 14, 63.
Answer
Topic 6 DQ 2
What do you think is the most pressing social problem facing America throughout the term of the last
five presidents and today? What do you feel is the role of the government in the process of dealing
with the social problems of their time on the micro and macro levels? What do you think has shaped
your views?
Reoly to
Elizabeth Mahon
5-Mar 23, 2022, 5:24 AM
Professor and class,
Through much reading and researching, it appears that one of the more pressing social problems in recent years is that of
poverty. While there have always been families who have struggled with poverty, even if only on a temporary basis, we
are seeing more and more of it in recent years. This has been especially true over the last two years as the United States,
along with the rest of the world have been dealing with the issue of COVID. This struggle has contributed to the poverty
issue in many ways. People are unable to work due to health reasons or even because their job has simply been
terminated. Of course there are some individuals who simply do not want to work, therefore freeing up some jobs for
other to take.
Over the course of time, the government has tried to alleviate this issue for individuals by offering assistance to those in
need. This comes in the form of state funded health insurance, food stamps and cash benefits. There are other programs
as well that offer free or reduced cost early childhood education, heating assistance and rent assistance. In the most
recent years, as a result of COVID, the government has been sending out relief checks to individuals to try and assist them
with funds (ArnoldVentures, 2021).
For society as a whole, the government has been working towards certain goals such as creating more, better paying jobs.
This would help reduce the unemployment rate and less people would be dependent upon government assistance. The
government has taken other steps as well, such as tax breaks for certain groups of people. In spite of all this, poverty is
still a social problem that we are struggling with today.
My views on this have been shaped by personal experience. I have only recently gotten myself to a point where I do not
struggle financially. In honesty, it only came after my children left home though. Knowing the difficulties of getting ahead
the the other issues that result from a struggle with poverty have given a new perspective on this matter.
Blessings,
Elizabeth
REFERENCES:ArnoldVentures, 2021. What Can the Government Do to Address Poverty? Retrieved March 23, 2022
from https://www.arnoldventures.org/stories/what-can-the-government-do-to-address-poverty
Reply to
6-Mallory Kraemer
Mar 22, 2022, 6:45 AM
Hello Class!
I believe unemployment and families living in poverty is the most pressing social problem under past presidents and even
our current president. Families living in poverty under the last five presidents has ranged from 11.4% in 2020 under
President Donald Trump to 15.1% under President George H. W. Bush (U.S. Census Bureau, 2021). While these numbers
have fluctuated, it is still a large amount of people living in poverty, not including those who were not reported due to
homelessness in which the Census Bureau were not able to collect information.
There have been many attempts to help those living in poverty on the micro, individual level including providing aid from
each state and government such as state provided health insurance, WIC for parents of young children and babies, Social
Security or unemployment income (Trisi & Saenz, 2021). Unfortunately, these being provided does not always change a
person’s poverty status and does not always help them to find jobs that can help provide living wages. With inflation, it
can make affordability of everyday life much more difficult.
On the macro level, the government has provided different resources in communities to help those living in poverty. This
includes shelters, food banks, and other donation centers to help those in need. Though this can aid those in need, most
families and communities may still be struggling. Collectively, communities may not have enough resources required to
move out of poverty status.
I believe my views on poverty have been shaped by living within the lower income range a long period in my life as a
child. I feel that many people have faced poverty and may not have even recognized it at the time. I feel that the
government is trying to help on the micro level which can be successful when a person is provided extra assistance in
finding a better paying job to move out of poverty. I also believe when it comes to the larger, macro level, there could be
other resources provided to help communities that live within the poverty range. I do feel that providing a source of
education to help improve a person’s career may also be a helpful resource. If education were more affordable or
accessible, a person may be able to find a better paying job and successfully earn more of an income and live at a more
realistic wage without struggling nearly as much.
Mallory Kraemer
References
Trisi, D., & Saenz, M. (2021). Economic security programs reduce overall poverty, racial and ethnic inequities. Center on
Budget and Policy Priorities. Retrieved March 22, 2022, from https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-andinequality/economic-security-programs-reduce-overall-poverty-racial-andethnic#:~:text=Economic%20security%20programs%20such%20as,improving%20children’s%20long%2Dterm%20out
comes.
U.S. Census Bureau. (2021). Historical poverty tables: Poverty by definition of income (R&D). Census.gov. Retrieved
March 22, 2022, from https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/income-poverty/historical-povertyincome.html
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