Healthcare Disparities Among Hispanic Communities
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LACK OF HEALTH INSURANCE : The OMH reports , “ Hispanics have the highest uninsured rates of any racial or ethnic group within the United States . In 2019 , the Census Bureau reported that 50.1 percent of Hispanics had private insurance coverage , as compared to 74.7 percent for non-Hispanic whites ” ( OMH , 2021 ). Health coverage for Hispanic people has been a longstanding problem in the U . S ., leaving many vulnerable
3 and unable to receive necessary medical care .
EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME : An individual ’ s health insurance is often tied to employment , impacting one ’ s access to coverage and the ability to pay for medical care . Data collected by the Kaiser Family Foundation ( KFF ) suggests , “ Although Hispanic adults are as likely as White adults to say they are employed , they are more likely to report living in a lower income
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LACK OF ACCESS TO PREVENTIVE CARE : The leading causes of death and illness among Hispanics , as cited by the CDC are , “ heart disease , cancer , unintentional injuries ( accidents ), stroke , and diabetes ” ( OMH , 2021 ). Many Hispanic or Latino people are not afforded preventative care to help combat these illnesses , such as heart disease and diabetes , or they experience barriers that increase the challenges of living a health lifestyle . Regarding meeting primary healthcare needs , data from the KFF suggests that Hispanic adults are less likely than non-Hispanic adults to have a usual source of care
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