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Medicare is federal health insurance for anyone 65 and older and occasionally for people under 65 with certain disabilities or conditions. It is designed to assist the elderly in meeting hospital, medical, and other health costs. This program is split into parts A, B, C, and D, where the government breaks down its system to assist individuals' personal needs. Part A provides inpatient hospital coverage that covers patients formally admitted by a doctor, including skilled nursing facility care and hospice care. Part B provides outpatient medical coverage that covers patients formally admitted into the hospital as an inpatient. Part C is a way to receive Medicare benefits such as vision, hearing, and dental care.  Finally, part D provides prescription drug coverage that can be obtained only if you have a prescription from a valid provider, meaning they can not be bought over the counter.

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Medicaid, in simplest terms, is a health coverage assistance program for children, adults, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and seniors who qualify due to low income. States run Medicaid, each having its own requirements. Some mandatory benefits include hospital, physician, laboratory and x-ray, and home health services. Some additional optional benefits include prescription drugs, case management, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Any special conditions can be arranged when applying for this health coverage.

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Extra Works Cited For Info On Medicaid and Medicare

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Extra Works Cited For Info On Medicaid and Medicare

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“Benefits.” Medicaid, www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/index.html.

Homes, United Methodist. “Medicare vs. Medicaid: The Differences You Should Know.” Senior Living Communities, www.umh.org/assisted-independent-living-blog/medicare-vs-medicaid#:~:text=Medicare%20and%20Medicaid%20have%20many,for%20different%20groups%20of%20people.

McWhinney, James. “Medicare vs. Medicaid: What's the Difference?” Investopedia, Investopedia, www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/07/medicare-vs-medicaid.asp.

“Medicare and Medicaid Are Important to African Americans.” NCPSSM, 29 Jan. 2021, www.ncpssm.org/documents/medicare-policy-papers/medicare-medicaid-important-african-americans/#:~:text=Medicaid%20is%20an%20especially%20important,in%20coverage%20gaps%20in%20Medicare.

“Medicare Has Changed for 2023. Here's What Is New.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2023, www.latimes.com/business/story/2023-02-04/heres-what-is-new-for-medicare-in-2023#:~:text=Everyone%20pays%20a%20Part%20B,down%20from%20%24233%20in%202022.

“The Parts of Medicare (A, B, C, D).” Medicare Interactive, 24 Jan. 2022, www.medicareinteractive.org/get-answers/medicare-basics/medicare-coverage-overview/original-medicare.

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Addressing what is causing health disparities

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Addressing what is causing health disparities

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Some factors that African Americans are living in are unavoidable meaning the best way to receive help is assistance programs. Government funded programs can help get nutrition in communities which will help improve the lives of African Americans.

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Increasing education and awareness about the importance of healthy lifestyles can help prevent chronic diseases and improve overall health. Starting kids young as well will embed healthy lifestyles which they will remember for life.

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African American communities are disproportionately impacted by environmental factors such as air pollution, lead poisoning among children, and exposure to toxic chemicals. There are few to no street cleaning regulations or street/sidewalk cleanups, spreading diseases quicker and faster. This will cause higher rates of respiratory illness, developmental delays, and various health issues.

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African Americans are affected by violence and injury, including homicide, suicide, and unintentional injuries such as car accidents. These may be related to poverty, limited access to healthcare, and exposure to trauma and violence starting from a young age.

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African Americans have been hit harder by COVID-19, with higher rates of infection, hospitalization, and death than other racial and ethnic groups. This links back to social determinants of health, such as lack of access to healthcare, lower sanitation, and poverty rates.

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Increased drug stores and increased fats food can create fast food addictions and even early drug addictions. If kids are exposed to substances when they are younger, they will be more than likely to start drugs and become addicted.

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Unhealthy foods such as fast food restaurants are more accessible than anything else.

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Phenomenon of areas lacking fresh, healthy options. There can also be an increased number of liquor and drug stores in the area.

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When health care providers are finally in the area, they tend to be lower quality due to low funding by the government.

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Majority of African American areas are likely to lack hospitals and other healthcare providers

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After finally achieving healthcare access, African Americans may experience cultural and linguistic barriers when seeking help. This will impact their ability to communicate and connect with healthcare providers, understand health information, and even navigate the healthcare system.

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Health disparities cause African Americans to live unhealthier lives compared to other ethnicities.

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How can healthcare providers work to ensure African American patients receive high-quality care that addresses their individual needs?

How can we promote healthy behaviors and lifestyles in the African American community? Can education, programs, and policies take play in promoting health and preventing disease?

How do access to healthcare and health insurance coverage affect the health outcomes of African Americans?

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My research question overlays the broad aspect of why these health disparities exist in the African American community and where they originated. The united states is supposed to be a country that strives for equality amongst all races, ethnicities, and religions. How can one race have higher risks of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity than other racial and ethnic groups? African Americans lack a source of care that is supposed to be equal for all ethnicities. It all comes down to structural racism. This refers to ways societies foster racial discrimination through housing, education, earnings, and in our case, health care. African American communities are built intentionally to have less access to healthcare, and more liquor stores are built to encourage early addictions that stay within the community. In other words, they are set up for failure, a way to keep certain ethnic groups from prospering for a healthier lifestyle. Regardless of income, African Americans tend to be segregated in neighborhoods with fewer resources and higher health risks. Even once they finally receive the healthcare they deserve, African Americans are consistently undertreated for pain compared to white patients. The mistrust of physicians is strong, which only discourages them from going to the doctors in the first place. In further research, I will need feedback from the affected people. Personal experiences will deepen my understanding of their feelings and how they affect their daily lives. There needs to be a proposition that addresses systemic factors such as increasing access to quality healthcare, healthier food options, and improving trust in the medical industry.

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1. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/07/being-black-in-america-can-be-hazardous-to-your-health/561740/

2. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/13/upshot/bad-medicine-the-harm-that-comes-from-racism.html

3. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/17/health/racial-disparities-health-care.html

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Lack of access to care- Unable to obtain healthcare services such as preventing, diagnosing, treating, and managing diseases, illnesses, disorders, and other health-impacting conditions. Healthcare is not accessible, meaning it is not affordable or convenient for community members.

Mortality- The state of being subject to death, especially on a large scale. In this case, mortality is focused on African Americans with increased death rates due to reduced healthcare, substandard care, and poor health literacy.

Physician Distrust-  Lack of trust or suspicion of clinicians and healthcare systems that correlates with race/ethnicity and perceived discrimination. One of the most common studies found that black Americans are consistently undertreated for pain compared to white patients.

Poverty- The state of not having enough money to meet basic needs, including food, clothing, and shelter, let alone being able to afford proper food and nutrition to remain healthy. Poverty is highly correlated to poor health outcomes such as heart disease, obesity, and higher blood pressure.

Health Disparities- Refers to the differences in health outcomes between different groups, such as racial or ethnic groups. These are differences in achieving optimal health experienced by socially disadvantaged populations.

Structural racism- Refers to ways in which racism is embedded in social, economic, and political systems and institutions, which ultimately leads to unequal access to resources and opportunities. They come from deep patterns of social, economic, and cultural differences that have developed over time between different groups of people.

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I chose these terms because they all correlate to the issues that African Americans face within their community. These are just a few factors that are causing these disparities. As we break down key components of the issue, we will be able to know how it started and what can be done to end these issues. Addressing these factors and achieving health equity for all populations is important.

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Racial discrimination has shaped so many American institutions it should be no surprise that health care is among them. In simpler terms, people of color receive less care and often even worse care than white Americans. Reasons include lower health coverage rates, communication barriers, and stereotyping affecting African Americans. Joseph Dieleman, the study's author about health disparities in African American communities, describes the phenomenon by stating, “This is about poverty, geography and where people live and where primary care clinics are located, and it is about health insurance” (Dieleman, 2021). African Americans do not even have clinics near where they live, which questions why the neighborhood was even built in the first place. It seems that in richer and more white predominant areas, there is easier access to healthcare and even fresh food markets for healthier meals. In the poorer areas, liquor stores sell drugs and alcohol, which can trigger bad habits and early drug addictions. Eveylnn Hammonds, a historian of science at Harvard, summarizes the historical aspect of the situation by claiming, “There has never been any period in American history where the health of blacks was equal to that of whites. Disparity is built into the system” (Hammonds 2020). African Americans have been subject to discriminatory policies and practices that have limited their access to education, housing, and healthcare. African Americans are experiencing higher rates of chronic illnesses for reasons that start within their own communities, which some have no control over. Systematic racism, discrimination, and lack of access to quality healthcare are the only factors leading to these disparities. Addressing these issues will give readers a better understanding of how these disparities started and advocate for health equality for all ethnicities. There is also a necessity for more research and data to understand better the root causes of these disparities to develop solutions. To grasp a deeper understanding of the issues that underline community members, addressing systemic racism and discrimination is where it must start.