There is a rarely talked about reason that also plays into why much of America
does not want universal coverage (Interlandi, 2019). Race. Since the Civil War
African Americans have received less care and less quality in the care
received. Federal health care policy was designed, both implicitly and
explicitly, to exclude black Americans (Interlandi, 2019). Access to good
medical care was predicated on a system of employer-based insurance that was
inherently difficult for black Americans to get (Interlandi, 2019). They were
originally barred from joining the American Medical Society or from
receiving a medical education from the most prestigious universities. Over and
over again these issues and beliefs are still seen to play out in biases healthcare
providers have (Interlandi, 2019). African American women are more likely to
die in childbirth (Hill et al., 2022). African Americans are less likely to receive
pain medication (Hill et al., 2022). African American children are less likely to
be properly diagnosed with learning disabilities (Hill et al., 2022).
America is still the only high-income country that does not have universal
healthcare (Interlandi, 2019). Every day additional studies come out showing
how much race does still play a major part in the care given (Hill et al., 2022).
Race is still shown to play a part in laws passed. Race is still used as a way to
criminalize those who America sees as less which gives America an excuse to
why universal healthcare should not be passed (Hill et al., 2022). Heaven
forbid if someone released from jail who was wrongly jailed have the same
healthcare as Jeff Bezos. America is likely to pass universal healthcare until
America chooses to see all people as who and deserving of the right to good
health. a
Hill, L., Artiga, S., & Halder, S. (2022, January 26). Key facts on health and
health care by race and ethnicity. Kaiser Family Foundattion. Retrieved
February 17, 2022, from https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-
policy/report/key-facts-on-health-and-health-care-by-race-and-ethnicity/
Interlandi, J. (2019, August 14). Why doesn't america have universal health
care? one word: Race. The New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2022,
from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/universal-
health-care-racism.htm
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