Healthcare: The Invisible Enemy during COVID-19

Written by Shealagh Sullivan

COVID-19 is a nightmare that, at least in the United States, does not seem like it will be going away anytime soon. The pandemic has opened up conversations about the downfalls of globalization and even inequalities across the board. Across the globe, millions are now vulnerable to an unprecedented crisis, with many calling on the G20 to take crucial measures to aid in a worldwide recession. In the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, disparities in healthcare have been more exposed than ever.

Has it always been this way?

Even before the pandemic, 27.5 million people were estimated to not have insurance as of 2018, a disproportionate amount of whom were racial minorities and of a lower socioeconomic status. Without insurance, people have to pay higher costs for care, and have worse access to medical treatment for preventable and chronic illnesses. Without affordable access to healthcare, those in vulnerable communities cannot properly find the care they may desperately need. In times like this, this problem is only exacerbated. In particular, the Black Americans have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. As of May, predominantly Black communities have accounted for 60 percent of coronavirus deaths, a shocking statistic considering they only make up around 13 percent of the United States population.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/05/30/865413079/what-do-coronavirus-racial-disparities-look-like-state-by-state

It’s not just about healthcare.

The disproportionate effect on Black American communities is not only a result of an extremely flawed healthcare system, but a series of systematic oppression that has resulted in a higher amount of underlying conditions. Food deserts, urbanization, and racially biased policies have resulted in Black people being closer together and at a higher risk of infection. Without a proper system to give care, people will not receive the treatment they need for long term problems, and will often need hospitalization for preventable problems.

Being on the frontlines of a pandemic without insurance or care to fall back on is the harsh reality that many face every day.

With non-essential businesses forced to close, some have the unexpected luxury of working from home, many of those into the beginning of next year. However, essential workers, including grocery workers, transit drivers, and restaurant workers, are required to go to work every day, putting them at a far greater risk of infection. These low-wage jobs do not allow for the privilege of social distancing and online work, and are predominantly staffed by Black and Latino individuals.

https://www.kff.org/disparities-policy/issue-brief/disparities-in-health-and-health-care-five-key-questions-and-answers/

Why are people uninsured?

Put simply, many low-wage jobs do not offer health insurance benefits, unlike high paying positions. Since the United States does not have a single-payer healthcare system, one of the only developed countries without it, people have to pay for private insurance. Despite the Affordable Care Act, many are still unable to afford insurance. Approximately 45 percent of uninsured individuals said the cost of coverage was simply too high, many of whom are ineligible for Medicaid programs. Low-wage employment and unemployment is more prevalent amongst minority communities, putting them at a potentially life-threatening disadvantage compared to their white counterparts. Without employment or affordable access to healthcare, minorities, specifically Black and Latinx individuals, are left vulnerable in the age of COVID-19.

State governments have started making changes, but will it last?

States have temporarily expanded their Medicaid programs to help ease financial burdens, however these efforts are not a permanent fix. These expansions will cover COVID-19 testing and other related services, and some states have made it easier to qualify for Medicaid. However, the true solution is not a bandaid, but a complete reconstruction of healthcare as we know it. Without this change, lack of coverage will only be a roadblock many minorities are forced to endure while others turn a blind eye.

To add to it all, the federal government seems almost unwilling to help those most in need.

Congress authorized 2 trillion in relief funds for corporations, healthcare providers, small businesses, and individuals, yet did not address the true obstacles many minorities face when it comes to healthcare. Free testing was the first issue addressed, but not everyone without insurance can even access that. Congress has not been clear about what happens if someone tests positive, but astronomically high medical bills are on the forefront of many people’s minds without insurance.

Is there a solution?

Programs such as single-payer healthcare are made out to be a complete “socialist” nightmare by many, however a system similar could be an excellent step in fixing disparities far too common in healthcare. Brushing the flaws of the current system under the rug only harms those most vulnerable, while giving the privileged the security needed to look away. States have made fundamental, but not permanent, first steps in opening up this conversation at a larger scale. In a pandemic, there is no simple solution, but conversations must be had in order for any change to progress.

Simply sticking with the flawed system in place will only continue to harm minorities, especially as the pandemic persists with seemingly little hope of disappearing in the near future.

A global pandemic versus healthcare

Public health relies on the participation of every member of society, but without affordable access to insurance or accessible care, many minorities fall victim to the healthcare disparities that seem to run rampant. Fighting a pandemic doesn’t come without challenges, however the United States healthcare system is riddled with systematic oppression that makes finding accessible and affordable care seemingly unattainable. Confronting this silent enemy is desperately needed, for without it our nation’s vulnerable will only continue to suffer.