Race and Access to Healthcare Term Paper

, 2001; Smedley, Stith, & Nelson, 2003). (Copeland, 2005, p. 265)

Populations hardest hit are African-American, Hispanic and Native American populations and as with many other health care access issues the concentration of individuals with limited or no access to healthcare is often associated with low SES urban areas and rural communities with access issues of their own. (Buckley & Van Giezen, 2004, p. 43) (Beverly, Mcatee, Costello, Chernoff & Casteel, 2005, p. 197) the access to health care issue, for many is a cumulative issue that is partnered with a general lack of access to other opportunities, such as adequate housing and employment. (Lopez, 2007, p. 985) it must also be said that job benefits tend to skip over certain employment situations, frequently the lower paying the job the less likely an individual is to have access to job related health benefits, and this statistic is increasing as more and more employers opt out of health care access, due to cost prohibitive plans. (Lustig & Strauser, 2004, p 38) One final sentiment is that as the trend, though relatively minor right now, to accessing healthcare through international travel, due to cost benefits and as a solution to lack of health benefits is almost an entirely white phenomena, in the U.S. What this says is that alternatives, no matter how discouraged are also not available to racial minorities in many cases. So as those who are able seek out lower cost alternatives to independently deal with the growing cost of health care the disadvantaged are further disadvantaged by yet another missing access point. (Marlowe & Sullivan, 2007, p. 8)

References

Beverly, C.J., Mcatee, R., Costello, J., Chernoff, R., & Casteel, J. (2005). Needs Assessment of Rural Communities: A Focus on Older Adults. Journal of Community Health, 30(3), 197.

Buckley, J.E., & Van Giezen, R.W. (2004). Federal Statistics on Healthcare Benefits and Cost Trends: An Overview Federal Government Statistical Agencies Provide a Variety of Healthcare Information on Diverse Aspects of the Nation's Healthcare Picture. Monthly Labor Review, 127(11), 43.

Copeland, V.C. (2005). African-Americans: Disparities in Health Care Access and Utilization. Health and Social Work, 30(3), 265.

Lopez, I.F. (2007). "A Nation of Minorities": Race, Ethnicity, and Reactionary Colorblindness. Stanford Law Review, 59(4), 985.

Lustig, D.C., & Strauser, D. (2004). Employee Benefits for Individuals with Disabilities: The Effect of Race and Gender. The Journal of Rehabilitation, 70(2), 38.

Marlowe, J.,…