6 Factors That Affect Healthcare Access In America

When people think about the United States of America, some only see abundance and wealth. To this day, the country attracts immigrants by the thousands annually. When it comes to healthcare access, though, the government is far from perfect.

As with other nations, the US is suffering from a lack of healthcare workers. The pandemic has only worsened the situation, with one out of five exhausted hospital staff allegedly quitting their jobs. Apart from a severely strained workforce, many other reasons limit healthcare access in this part of the world. You’ll find some of them below.

1. Workforce Shortages

The current situation may be a sign that a healthcare crisis is looming. Apart from burned-out healthcare staff, the medical system has already reported staffing shortages pre-pandemic. Some 122,000 doctors are needed to keep up with the healthcare requirements of the current and aging American population by 2032, according to the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Additionally, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) estimates that more than 200,000 nurses are needed yearly until 2026, mainly to fill new positions and replace retiring nurses. This shortage is pronounced in rural communities where 61.74% of the workforce deficit is located, according to the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA).

2. The Digital Divide

Movement restrictions during the pandemic have prompted the use of telemedicine and virtual consultations. As a result, few startup companies focusing on digital healthcare experienced a boost in the last two years.

Apart from minimizing virus proliferation, telemedicine is an effective tool to address accessibility issues, geographical or otherwise, plaguing patients in rural areas. Unfortunately, despite being a progressive nation, the US still has intermittent to nonexistent internet connectivity in some areas. Without connection, patients in rural households have no means to connect with their doctors. This, in effect, fails to address issues on healthcare access.

3. Financial Factors

Poverty and inadequate health insurance coverage are two major financial issues that affect healthcare access not only in the US but globally. In areas where healthcare services are privatized, citizens have complained of restrictive medical costs as one of the primary reasons for skipping medical care. In the US, for instance, the 2019 health spending per capita was pegged at USD$11,582, or a total of USD$3.8 trillion.

Understandably, those without insurance coverage have less access to much-needed patient care. Considering the high prices of monthly premiums, individuals from low-income households can’t afford healthcare insurance coverage.

4. Race And Ethnicity

Besides disparities in rural and urban areas alongside financial status, race and ethnicity can also impact healthcare access. Research has shown that persons belonging to the minority population, including African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders, often have restricted access to medical services.

However, the main reason isn’t discrimination. These populations often occupy lower socioeconomic levels in society. They’re usually located in poor communities without access to quality education and have lower-paying jobs.

A separate study showed that African American adults suffer from poorer health conditions and higher mortality and comorbidity levels than their Caucasian American counterparts. The same holds for other minority race groups earlier mentioned.

5. Citizenship Issues

Although they’re afforded specific rights, immigrants who have no proper citizenship documents can’t apply for government-backed health insurance. Those employed illegally suffer the same fate as availing of health and other forms of insurance require identification and legal documents.

And the reason for shunning health services isn’t only linked with lack of health insurance. With the stricter enforcement of immigration laws, most non-American citizens would rather sacrifice their health issues than face jail time and deportation.

6. Poor Literacy

This one is closely linked to socioeconomic status but deserves a separate discussion. When a person lacks literacy, it can be frustrating to deal with all aspects of social services, not only the healthcare system. For instance, a patient may be asked to fill in information for various health forms or are provided with instructions, which can be overwhelming for someone who doesn’t know how to read and write.

Without proper guidance from a family member or loved one, patients who lack literacy may fear or get anxious in dealing with medical workers. This and the costs for accessing patient services are a perfect recipe for shutting down access.

Bottom Line

In an ideal world, all citizens must have equal and easy access to primary care, regardless of socioeconomic status. However, the reality in most countries is that impediments to universal access are highly challenging to hurdle. Unless the government and private sector work hand in hand to remove all these barriers, citizens may not be able to live their lives to the fullest.