Effect of Socio-Economic Status on Access to and Outcomes of Health Care We can’t deny the fact that socio-economic status plays a large role in both health and longevity in the United States. People with more education, a higher income, and better jobs are less likely to die of diabetes, heart disease, strokes, and many types of cancer.
How does economic status affect drug addiction and abuse?
In other words, the many risk factors that may lead people to drug addiction and abuse are more common in households on the lower economic status and areas than areas and families on the high economic status. >>> READ THIS NEXT: Signs That Addiction and Mental Health Are Co-occurring
What is the relationship between economic status and health?
Lower economic status leads to poorer health, which in turn leads to a dangerous cycle of further impoverishment (19). Simply stated, there is a relationship between SES and health, with low SES associated with poorer health (20–24). Wealth and Healthy Aging
How does economics affect health and care?
Many important forces shaping health and health care have more to do with economics and social policy than with any particular medical treatment or procedure. Dartmouth Institute Professor and Economist Ellen Meara takes a closer look. 1. Economic opportunity motivates and enables people to invest in their health; its absence does the reverse.
What is economic status?
Economic status is defined as the level at which an individual is usually based on income. There are three different economic status levels in the world today, which are:
How does financial status affect access to healthcare?
In general, people from poorer social or economic circumstances are at greater risk of poor health, have higher rates of illness, disability and death, and live shorter lives than those who are more advantaged (Mackenbach 2015). Generally, every step up the socioeconomic ladder is accompanied by an increase in health.
How does economic status affect?
SES affects overall human functioning, including our physical and mental health. Low SES and its correlates, such as lower educational achievement, poverty and poor health, ultimately affect our society.
How does high socioeconomic status affect health?
Socioeconomic status, whether assessed by income, education, or occupation, is linked to a wide range of health problems, including low birthweight, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, and cancer.
How does one's socioeconomic status impact their health and mortality?
In a variety of contexts, lower SES is associated with reduced access to care, poorer health outcomes, and increased mortality and morbidity as individuals age (9–18). Thus, this mini-review specifically targets the relationship between wealth, access to healthcare, and healthy aging.
How does economic and social disadvantage affect health?
Social and economic factors, such as income, education, employment, community safety, and social supports can significantly affect how well and how long we live. These factors affect our ability to make healthy choices, afford medical care and housing, manage stress, and more.
Does economic status affect people's behavior?
For example, lower SES can adversely influence children's development in terms of behavioral and cognitive domains through several avenues, including lower levels of parental resources, social support, parental mental health, and parental functioning [8–10].
How does social class affect health care?
Many studies demonstrate that social classes can positively predict individual health [5–11]. Compared with the lower class, the upper classes have longer life spans, a better health status, and less possibility of suffering from a physical disability [12, 13].
How does low income affect health?
Poverty can affect the health of people at all ages. In infancy, it is associated with a low birth weight, shorter life expectancy and a higher risk of death in the first year of life. Children living in poverty are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases and diet-related problems.
How does higher income affect health?
The findings of this research indicate that those with higher incomes most likely have better health outcomes, but they, too, are beginning to show slight declines in recent years. But low-income Americans are in a much worse position.
How does economic factors affect health and wellbeing?
Individuals on lower income are more likely to adopt unhealthy lifestyles such as smoking and drinking, whilst individuals on a high income are able to afford healthier lifestyles. This leads to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes.
What are three socioeconomic factors that influence health care?
Evidence has accumulated, however, pointing to socioeconomic factors such as income, wealth, and education as the fundamental causes of a wide range of health outcomes.
What is the impact of addiction?
This applies to a person experiencing addiction, as well as others around them. The plight of addiction causes a huge economic burden on our communities, states , and even the entire country , in addition to the personal impact it has on individuals and their loved ones.
How many substance abusers receive treatment?
Estimates show that about one in six substance abusers receives treatment, which results in a cost of billions worldwide. Research that was conducted recently goes on to show that that goes into treatment funding actually has a return of anywhere from ” to ” in reduced health care and crime costs.
How much did Medicaid spend on substance abuse in 2009?
Based on information from the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, in 2009 health insurances spent 4 billion treating substance misuse, with a fifth of that coming from Medicaid funding as 12% of those under Medicaid have an alcohol or drug habit.
What is economic compulsive crime?
This is the type of crime where a person who is addicted to alcohol or drugs engages in crime in order to support their habit. 17% of United States state prisoners and 19% of federal inmates admitted to committing their crime in order to obtain cash to buy drugs. The third major link is systemic crime, ...
How does drug prevention work?
Drug Prevention And Treatment. Drug abuse requires a large number of monetary resources to implement prevention programs, intervention programs, education, treatment, and rehabilitation. That said, while this does require a large portion of money, when it works to prevent drug abuse, it can make up the money from other costs ...
What is the third major link in the drug war?
The third major link is systemic crime, such as violence over drug turf, fighting between users and sellers, and other similar crimes. This is most common in Latin America, but takes place in the United States on an increasingly regular basis, as well.
What is the link between drug use and crime?
The first of these is called psychopharmacological crime, which is a crime committed while under the influence of drugs. Studies show that in some locations as many as 55% of offenders were under the influence when the crime was committed, with 19% saying they would have committed the crime even if sober.
What is socioeconomic status?
A person’s socio-economic status, or SES, is defined by their occupation, income and education. Lower SES, such as living in a low-income neighbourhood, or having a high-stress, low control job, is often linked to a wide range of health problems, and higher mortality. Groups with a lower SES are often faced with health issues such as low birth ...
How does socioeconomic status affect longevity?
We can’t deny the fact that socio-economic status plays a large role in both health and longevity in the United States. People with more education, a higher income, and better jobs are less likely to die of diabetes, heart disease, strokes, and many types of cancer.
What is a disparity in health care?
Disparities don’t refer to differences which can be explained by patient preferences, treatment recommendations or differences in health needs. A disparity is caused by some type of disadvantage - whether that be economic, environmental or social.
How do health disparities affect everyone?
Because of these disparities, everyone faces additional costs. They also limit any improvements in the quality of care and health for the population as a whole.
Why are there health disparities in the US?
Health care disparities in the United States are caused by many factors including age, gender, citizenship status, and geography. However, when most people talk about health care disparities, they often talk about ethnicity and race as being major factors. Probably because race and ethnicity often play a role in socio-economic status.
How many states have refused to accept the Affordable Care Act?
Millions of the poorest and sickest Americans have been left without access to health care, as 14 US states have refused to accept the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion. The high cost of medical care, and the high proportion of uninsured people has left many local and regional hospitals in danger of closing.
Is smoking a risk factor for the less educated?
Chronic disease risk factors are also less common among the better educated. While the prevalence of smoking has decreased in the better educated, the same is not true for the less educated. Among high-school dropouts, physical inactivity is also more than twice as common as among college graduates.
Which countries have poorer older adults?
Poorer older adults in China and India report greater functional impairment and disability than older adults in the richest, richer, and middle-income classes. China and India. Zimmer (35) The poorest older adults report the worse health outcomes, with marginal gains in income associated with improvements in health.
Why is evidence important for older adults?
Because financial resources are proportional to health status, efforts are needed to support older adults and the burdened healthcare system with financial resources.
Does Mexico have income supplementation?
Mexico experimented with income supplementation for older adults. Elderly residents of two states in the Yucatan who received income supplementation (i.e., a 44% increase in household income) spent their extra income on doctor visits and medications, and realized improved health outcomes (62).
What are the environmental concerns of manufacturing illicit drugs?
Environmental Concerns: The cost of manufacturing illicit drugs and disposing of the byproducts involved in this process is of concern as well. These chemicals can pollute our water and soil, which may then affect humans, vegetation, and animal life.
How does addiction affect your life?
A drug or alcohol addiction most always takes an immense financial toll on a person’s life. As a person’s use increases the monetary demands rise as well—the financial strife can extend into almost every area of their life, affecting not only their economic well-being, but that of their family, as well.
What drugs require large areas of land?
The people affected may require medical assistance which again costs money. Some drugs—such as marijuana, opiates derived from the opium poppies, and cocaine —require large areas of land. These are areas of land that could be otherwise used for farming or growing food crops.
Can you forget to pay a drug bill?
Additionally, as they’re either under the influence or suffering from the drug’s effects, a person may forget to pay a bill, even if they have the money. These things can result in late fees, garnished wages, interrupted service, a reduced credit score– which may increase future interest rates –or even foreclosure.
Can drug use affect life insurance?
People who have a documented history of drug use or addiction may have a harder time getting affordable health insurance rates; this use can also affect your chances of getting life insurance —they may use it as grounds to decline you.
Does addiction affect the individual?
An addiction doesn’t just affect the individual or those who are directly involved in their life. Our nation’s economy, businesses and healthcare system, and our communities and families all face– in varying capacities– financial repercussions and responsibilities incurred from drug and alcohol use.
What was the average household health expenditure in 2002?
This is an increase from 1999, when the average household health expenditure was $1,959, or 4.5 percent of income.
How are health care costs offset?
The empirical evidence has tended to show that health care cost increases are offset by either direct wage reductions, increased employee cost sharing, or in instances where wages are fixed ( i.e., unionized contracts), by increases in the number of hours worked.
How many Americans have health insurance in 2003?
Employers 174 million Americans, or 60.4 percent of the population, had employment-based health insurance during 2003. A December 2004 survey of CEOs found that employee health care costs are the foremost cost concern in the minds of Americas business leaders.
How much was the national health budget in 2013?
By 2013, national health expenditures are projected to reach $3.4 trillion, or $10,709 per person. As a share of GDP, health spending is projected to reach 18.4 percent by 2013, up from its 2003 level of 15.3 percent. Table 1. National Health Expenditures.
How does technology affect health care?
Technology often leads to more spending, but outcomes improve by even more. [6] At a local level, health care spending growth is more likely to be viewed as beneficial. It creates health care jobs, increases wages for health care workers, expands local tax revenues, and increases demand for related goods and services.
What percentage of healthcare spending was in the 1960s?
Rising healthcare spending plays a central role in the fiscal health of the United States government. In 1960, public funding accounted for about 25 percent of total health care spending. By 2002, this share nearly doubled to approximately 46 percent of total spending. [13] .
Why is out of pocket spending so high?
Over half of the recent increase in out-of-pocket spending for health services was due to increases in spending for prescriptions drugs, reflecting new medicines, greater utilization, price increases, and the fact that seniors the age group that uses the most prescription drugs often pay 100% out-of-pocket today.
What is economic inequality?
Economic inequality is a broad term that encapsulates the gap between the income and wealth amassed by different groups in a society. Americans reference it when questioning why CEOs earn so much more than their employees or how historical and current policies have barred families of color from accumulating wealth.
What happens if you can't move?
"If you can't move, it really makes you feel kind of helpless and you give up hope ," he says. Economic inequality can leave families financially vulnerable, unable to weather small financial setbacks or begin to build wealth.
How much wealth did the 90th percentile have in 2016?
By 2016, a family at the 90th percentile had almost $1.2 million in wealth, more than 12 times the amount owned by the typical family. Similarly, income inequality has risen over the past 50 years, according to the Urban Institute.
Why is wealth important?
"Wealth is important because it's where economic opportunity lies ," McKernan says. [. See:
How to avoid medical debt?
Prioritizing access to health insurance, either through an employer or a government program, is another key way to avoid medical debt, which can be crippling for many families. While economic inequality is a broad topic, it can be helpful to tackle it head-on in your financial life.
Has inequality increased over the past half century?
A lot of people are concerned we've gone beyond where it should be.". Indeed, wealth and income inequality have increased over the previous half-century. According to the Urban Institute, in 1963, a family in the 90th wealth percentile had about six times the wealth owned by the typical American family.
Can job loss put families in financial jeopardy?
It can put families in financial jeopardy when a crisis such as a job loss arises , Freeland says. On a political level, he says, it can threaten democracy as a small group of elite amass political influence and control. [. Read: 5 Ways to Be a Socially Conscious Consumer and Financial Activist.
What is social and economic status?
Social and economic status, as defined by the American Psychological Association, is the social standing of a household. More information from the American Psychological Association about social and economic status can be found under its section on social and economic status.
What are the factors that contribute to social and economic status?
Other contributors to social and economic status include race, ethnicity, home ownership, family size, family types, and even types of foods purchased. The combination of social and economic status can reveal a group ...
What is the average pretax income for Asians?
Pretax income varied by race and ethnicity, as the average was highest for Asians with $93,390 and lowest for Blacks or African Americans with $48,871.
How does household income vary?
Household income varies widely by race and ethnicity. Researchers and the public have given a lot of attention to social and economic inequality over the past several years. Many factors have widened the gap between those with high and low income in the United States.
How does occupation affect social networks?
Occupations can influence social networks. An occupation can influence one's physical and mental health, as well as social networks. Over the 2014–16 period, 15 percent of American Indian or Alaska Native households were mainly supported by a member who was a manager or professional administrator.
What are the forces shaping health care?
Many important forces shaping health and health care have more to do with economics and social policy than with any particular medical treatment or procedure . Dartmouth Institute Professor and Economist Ellen Meara takes a closer look. 1. Economic opportunity motivates and enables people to invest in their health; its absence does the reverse.
What has been the public health triumph in the past 50 years?
A public health triumph in the U.S. over the past 50 years has been declining rates of tobacco use, and with it, reductions in deaths due to smoking-related causes.
How many people died from opioid overdoses in 2015?
Following a four-fold increase in prescription opioid sales since 1999, opioid overdose claimed 33,000 lives in 2015, and opioid use disorders affect over 2 million adults in the U.S. Subgroups hard hit by opioids have one thing in common, they include individuals with relatively low levels of education in communities gutted by a loss of manufacturing jobs. Policies that do not address the loss of economic opportunity for these groups are unlikely to curb the fast changing and deadly opioid epidemic.
What Are Health Care and Health Disparities?
Why Do Health Care Disparities in The United States Matter?
- Unfortunately, health and health care disparities in the United States affect everyone. Because of these disparities, everyone faces additional costs. They also limit any improvements in the quality of care and health for the population as a whole. As the population becomes more diverse, addressing health care disparities in the United States will become even more important.
Effect of Socio-Economic Status on Access to and Outcomes of Health Care
- We can’t denythe fact that socio-economic status plays a large role in both health and longevity in the United States. People with more education, a higher income, and better jobs are less likely to die of diabetes, heart disease, strokes, and many types of cancer. Upper-middle-class Americans tend to live longer than middle-class Americans, who in...
Health Care Disparities in The United States Exacerbated by Covid-19
- No one likes to think that communities of color are part of a lower socio-economic standing. Sadly, the numbers show that minority populations tend to earn less, have less access to education, and make up the “essential workers” group – including public transit employees, custodial staff, retail grocery workers, and health care workers. The COVID-19 pandemichas con…
So, What’s The Solution?
- Unfortunately, there are no obvious solutions to health care disparities in the United States. The healthcare industry is plagued by systemic access and quality problems, and many groups have faced historic denial of care. To eliminate disparities, these problems must be addressed. This might mean a total transformation of health care. Rather than focussing solely on eliminating di…