Face of the Uninsured
The United States spends more than any other nation in the world on healthcare–more than $2.2 trillion each year–almost $8,000 per person. Despite increases in spending, disparities among race and ethnic groups continue. Roughly 46 million people in the U.S. are uninsured. More than one in three Hispanics lack insurance; just less than one in five African Americans; and only one in eight whites.
Lack of Health Insurance
Whites: 12%
African Americans: 18%
Hispanics: 35%
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Prescription for Healthcare Reform
Americans want healthcare reform, but they want to keep their current insurance coverage and their current healthcare providers. They do, however, want lower costs. A recent CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey revealed that eight in 10 Americans are satisfied with the quality of healthcare they receive. About three out of four are happy with their overall healthcare coverage. But satisfaction drops 52% when it comes to the amount people pay for quality healthcare. About three out of four are dissatisfied with overall healthcare costs.
U.S. Race Relations Improve
According to a CBS News/The New York Times poll, the state of race relations between blacks and whites in America is better now than in 2008. About 59% of African Americans along with 65% of whites characterize race relations as good compared to just 29% of blacks who felt the same almost a year ago. Some 87% of whites and 61% of African Americans say there’s been real progress in eradicating racial discrimination since the 1960s, that’s up 37% from polled responses by blacks in 1996.
Recession Impacts Races Similarly
With the ongoing recession there has been a greater difference between older and younger Americans than between Americans of different races. According to Pew Research Center, among older Americans, 34% of whites, 42% of blacks, and 45% of Hispanics report cutting back on household spending over the past year because money was tight. For those under age 65, about 65% of blacks, 65% of whites, and 64% of Hispanics had to tighten their money belts.
This article originally appeared in the September 2009 issue of Black Enterprise magazine.