COVID-19 EXPOSES ECONOMIC INEQUALITY

“One-Hundred-Dollar Bill With Medical Face Mask on Benjamin Franklin” by Andy Dean Photography, https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/one-hundred-dollar-bill-medical-face-1671932665

By Adanda Timothy, JHBL Staff Member

Issue

As humanity progresses, so do infectious diseases. Outbreaks and pandemics have come and gone, as the world has seen the Swine flu, SARS, and Ebola within the last ten years. The consequences of an outbreak can vary greatly as they depend on other circumstances, such as how contagious and fatal it is, how hygienic people are, and how quickly a vaccine or cure becomes obtainable. Despite the diverse effects, low-income families and minority communities are disproportionally hurt and suffer the consequences the most during each outbreak.

Those who have money and do not live paycheck to paycheck have privileges others do not. Money affords greater access to certain necessities like healthcare, food, and housing. With rising costs for prescription medications, transportation, and other daily needs, everyday life has become more challenging to sustain for many people.

The COVID-19 outbreak did not cause the widening income gap and racial disparities, but rather it emphasizes inequalities in the United States. These inequalities, however, are not just a problem for those living in impoverished communities, but for society as a whole. The outbreak communicates the lack of value placed on these individuals’ lives and promotes inequity.

COVID-19 is a novel strain of the coronavirus and affects the respiratory system. The virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Infectious viruses like COVID-19 are incredibly contagious and will eventually reach the privileged communities. It is vital to take appropriate steps to control it in all areas and assist those who struggle the most during this time of uncertainty and fear.

A History of Inequality

Despite being the wealthiest country in the world, the United States had 38.1 million people living in poverty in 2018. Poverty measures a family’s financial ability to meet the basic needs of each family member within the context of the economic conditions of the nation. It generally refers to difficulty providing food, shelter, and clothing. These necessities are conservative, however, excluding health care, transportation, education, and childcare. Even with the added assistance of government programs, millions of Americans living at the bottom of the income distribution cannot afford the high costs of achieving a minimally adequate standard of living.

Economic inequality, as well as policy interventions in the United States, has been a continuous issue. In 2018, the highest-earning 20% of families made more than half of all U.S income. This financial inequality, often caused by low wages and a lack of benefits prevents a stable living for much of society. Millions of Americans work but do not earn enough to provide economic security.

Additionally, this level of disparity causes issues in many aspects of life. Since lower-income areas tend to have larger non-white populations, minorities are more likely to bear the brunt of the economic inequalities. These areas typically have less access to the same quality services as those in wealthier neighborhoods, which puts them at an unequal footing. Research has shown that two-thirds of approximately 230 hospitals opened since 2000 are in more affluent, mostly suburban areas. At the same time, health care facilities have been closing their urban counterparts. The number of hospitals in 52 major United States cities has dropped 46 percent within 40 years from 781 in 1970 to 426 in 2010. Most of these closed facilities were in poor urban neighborhoods, leaving low-income communities with no safety-net hospital.

Affects

The COVID-19 pandemic affects all of society; however, low-income families and minority communities suffer the most financially. As the United States shuts down to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, people are required to avoid crowds, stay home from work, and pressured to stockpile food and supplies as they grow thin. Quarantining puts low-income people at a disadvantage. Low-income jobs typically cannot be performed remotely. Consequently, low-income earners are laid off. Many people find themselves faced with more enormous financial burdens as these jobs often provide no paid time off. Low-income people are also more likely to be uninsured and unable to pay for medical care out of pocket.

Furthermore, being out of work and receiving no income creates a snowball effect for further struggles. The need to purchase food and supplies in bulk has increased, forcing those who cannot afford it to compete with those who have the money to spend. Additionally, with school closures, low-income children that relied on subsidized breakfast and lunches no longer have access to their daily nutrition. Because of this, many families are unable to eat regularly.

Even before the pandemic, many low-income households and minority communities did not receive adequate medical care. Now, hospitals turn away many people from their services because they are uninsured. President Donald Trump signed a bill recently that grants free testing for all, although tests are still hard to come by. Nonetheless, this does not make treatment any more straightforward. Expensive medical care is a significant deterrent from receiving aid. On the other hand, wealthy individuals and families have an easier time not only getting tested for the virus but receiving private treatment.

Necessary Action Needed

The United States has endured outbreaks, yet the same issues confront low-income and minority communities financially. There have been actions to mitigate them, such as stimulus checks and a halt on rent in certain areas. Massachusetts lawmakers passed a bill to ban evictions and foreclosures during the crisis. The legislation provides mortgage borrowers with forbearance options and further protects tenants from late fees. However, more remains to be done on a larger scale. Increasing wages, lowering healthcare costs, and providing assistance for those who need it the most is essential. Lawmakers need to pass a bill that provides free coronavirus testing, paid sick leave, and unemployment benefits. It is vital for America to shift its focus from profits to the welfare of its people by protecting our most vulnerable groups.

Finally, the United States should stay prepared for future pandemics, particularly for our low-income Americans. Knowing the lack of adequate resources, the government must stock test kits and protective medical equipment. Hospitals and healthcare facilities need to be more available in urban areas. An increased level of preparation would contribute to protecting our people who suffer regardless. Although the virus “does not discriminate,” the wealthy struggle less. In times of chaos, as a society, we must be intentional in the fight against pandemics, not only for those who can afford it but for those who cannot.

Adanda Timothy is currently a second-year law student at Suffolk University Law School and a staff member of the Journal of Health and Biomedical Law. She is on the National Trial Team and is interested in criminal and civil litigation. Adanda may be reached at atimothy@su.suffolk.edu.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are the views of the author alone and do not represent the views of JHBL or Suffolk University Law School.

Sources

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/one-hundred-dollar-bill-medical-face-1671932665

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-deadly-is-the-coronavirus-compared-to-past-outbreaks

https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/03/19/us-address-impact-covid-19-poor

https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1

https://www.npr.org/2019/09/10/759512938/u-s-census-bureau-reports-poverty-rate-down-but-millions-still-poor

https://www.povertyusa.org/facts