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Motivation & Insight into Medicine 3
Why is there so much inequality in health care delivery, even in Boston?
Good Candidate Response
I believe that this issue stems from the lack of affordable health care, as well as the vicious cycle whereby individuals with poor health are unable to secure jobs, and thus in many cases, do not have access to health insurance further perpetuating the cycle.
Excellent Candidate Response
There are numerous reasons as to why inequality in healthcare exists in Boston and in the US in general; these mainly centre around the fact that those living in more deprived and disadvantaged areas are more likely to experience chronic health conditions, and do not have access to the appropriate treatment and facilities for these.
Despite being the most affluent country in the world, factors such as a lack of education and improper sanitation remain a very real problem and mean that individuals living in poorer areas have a reduced quality of life, with conditions such as hypertension being more prevalent than in more affluent areas. Disparities in care also affect the treatment provided to patients; reduced funding in lower socioeconomic areas results in a poorer quality of hospitals and thus the technology and medication available, consequently influencing patient care. The high cost of healthcare can further create a divide in the standard of healthcare provided. Not all individuals from disadvantaged areas are able to qualify for Medicaid, and thus have to pay for the entirety of the treatment they receive; considering the above point of how citizens in these areas already experience a greater number of health conditions, having to pay for this excessive amount of treatment can push them closer to poverty, creating an endless cycle of deprivation.
Finally, there is also a ‘poverty cycle’ with those in employment and having the benefit of health insurance through their employers, remaining healthy and in employment as a result of this. Whereas in contrast, those without employment are much less likely to have health insurance, and are much more likely to become unwell, and consequently further reducing their chance of obtaining future employment or health insurance.
I believe that this issue stems from the lack of affordable health care, as well as the vicious cycle whereby individuals with poor health are unable to secure jobs, and thus in many cases, do not have access to health insurance further perpetuating the cycle.
Excellent Candidate Response
There are numerous reasons as to why inequality in healthcare exists in Boston and in the US in general; these mainly centre around the fact that those living in more deprived and disadvantaged areas are more likely to experience chronic health conditions, and do not have access to the appropriate treatment and facilities for these.
Despite being the most affluent country in the world, factors such as a lack of education and improper sanitation remain a very real problem and mean that individuals living in poorer areas have a reduced quality of life, with conditions such as hypertension being more prevalent than in more affluent areas. Disparities in care also affect the treatment provided to patients; reduced funding in lower socioeconomic areas results in a poorer quality of hospitals and thus the technology and medication available, consequently influencing patient care. The high cost of healthcare can further create a divide in the standard of healthcare provided. Not all individuals from disadvantaged areas are able to qualify for Medicaid, and thus have to pay for the entirety of the treatment they receive; considering the above point of how citizens in these areas already experience a greater number of health conditions, having to pay for this excessive amount of treatment can push them closer to poverty, creating an endless cycle of deprivation.
Finally, there is also a ‘poverty cycle’ with those in employment and having the benefit of health insurance through their employers, remaining healthy and in employment as a result of this. Whereas in contrast, those without employment are much less likely to have health insurance, and are much more likely to become unwell, and consequently further reducing their chance of obtaining future employment or health insurance.