Health disparities have been a longstanding issue in the United States, reflecting structural and systemic inequalities rooted in historical racism and discrimination. These disparities manifest in differences in health outcomes and access to healthcare between various groups, including differences in life expectancy, mortality rates, health status, and prevalence of health conditions. Factors such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, geography, language, gender, disability status, citizenship status, and sexual identity all play a role in determining these disparities.
Addressing health and healthcare disparities is crucial for promoting equity and improving the overall health and economic prosperity of the nation. Racial and ethnic disparities in health lead to higher rates of illness and death across a wide range of health conditions, resulting in excess medical care costs, lost productivity, and economic losses due to premature deaths. As the population becomes more diverse, it becomes increasingly important to address these disparities to ensure the well-being of all individuals.
Despite efforts to address disparities over the years, many disparities persist and, in some cases, have widened. Black, American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN), Hispanic, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (NHPI) individuals often fare worse than their White counterparts across various health measures, including infant mortality, pregnancy-related mortality, diabetes mortality, cancer mortality, and life expectancy. Disparities in health coverage and access to care also persist, with nonelderly individuals from minority groups more likely to be uninsured.
Recent federal actions have been taken to address disparities, including executive orders focused on advancing health equity, the release of updated frameworks to advance health equity, and actions to stabilize and increase access to health coverage. Efforts to address maternal health disparities, increase disaggregated racial and ethnic data collection, and expand the Child Tax Credit have also been implemented to reduce disparities and improve health outcomes.
Looking ahead, key issues related to health disparities include growing mental health needs, increasing climate-related health risks, policy changes, and the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. Disparities in mental health care access, drug overdose death rates, and climate-related health impacts may exacerbate existing disparities. Evolving federal and state policies related to reproductive health, Medicaid, and immigration could also impact disparities in health coverage and access to care. The outcome of the 2024 presidential election will have far-reaching implications for addressing health disparities and other key health policy areas.
