Our country is having a serious and polarizing conflict about how to pay for health care services. Critical information about income disparity regarding our nation’s health status–an important factor affecting the need for health services is often overlooked. If diseases are prevented, no treatment is necessary. If diseases are caught early, treatment is less expensive.
POTUS in East Room speaking at the second session of the Health Summit. Image is the public domain.
We are inundated with messages about how to keep ourselves healthy – eat less; eat healthier foods; get exercise; reduce stress; get adequate sleep, and so on. Rising obesity and diabetes rates in adults and children, and the connection between obesity and chronic health problems is a good example of our collective concern.
Such a focus on the habits of individuals is necessary, but not enough, to improve the health of Americans. Income disparity in a population is a major factor and we know that the poorer the individual is, the poorer his or her health is likely will be. What is less known is that income disparity affects the health of the entire population. If a society is characterized by wide disparities in income, it is likely that the society will have wide disparities in its health status. In other words, the wider the income gap, the sicker the society.
An individual’s income is not necessarily what affects income inequality in a society. A person’s age and education affect income, but inequality is an outcome of historical, economic, and political factors. Despite these complexities, research demonstrates raising the incomes of disadvantaged peoples would improve their health, reduce the inequalities in health, and increase the overall health of the general population.
If we want to improve the health status of Americans, we should focus on developing policies and programs that reduce the impact of poverty and population-level income disparities. This discussion is overshadowed by the battle to reduce health care spending in Medicare and Medicaid and has grave consequences in a society with an ever-widening income and wealth gap.
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