Disparities in the U.S. Health Care System
A recent study by the Commonwealth Fund has revealed that racial and ethnic disparities in the health care system in the U.S. vary significantly for Black and Hispanic individuals compared to white individuals. Within New England, Connecticut stands out for having some of the most severe disparities in health care outcomes for these groups. While Black individuals in Connecticut rank among the best compared to 39 other states, they still face significant gaps in their overall health care.
In fact, data shows that Black individuals are almost twice as likely as white individuals to die before the age of 75 from treatable causes, with Connecticut being one of the worst-performing states in this regard. Additionally, Black individuals aged 65 and older were nearly twice as likely to make potentially avoidable ER visits and had nearly double the hospital readmission rate within 30 days compared to white individuals. Moreover, over three times more Black babies died than white babies in the state, highlighting a significant disparity in infant mortality rates.
On the other hand, only 16% of the Hispanic population in Connecticut was uninsured compared to only 4% of the state’s white population. However, this still leaves a significant number of Hispanics without access to adequate health care coverage and services.
In contrast, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders in Connecticut had some of the best health outcomes when compared to data from 31 other states. White individuals living in Connecticut also had overall some of the best health outcomes nationally, ranking fourth on average across all racial and ethnic groups studied by Commonwealth Fund researchers.
These disparities highlight a need for addressing racial and ethnic disparities within our healthcare system to ensure equitable access and outcomes for all individuals regardless of their race or ethnicity.
It is essential that we continue working towards creating a more inclusive healthcare system that provides equal opportunities for everyone to receive quality care without any discrimination based on race or ethnicity.
