The Price of Getting Sick in America by Chiya Stonewall
In America, your zip code can predict your life expectancy more accurately than your genetics. There are neighborhoods overlooked in every major city, and minority communities continue to face barriers to healthcare that most people will never see. The U.S prides itself on medical innovation, but the reality on the ground tells a different story.
One of the biggest barriers is the cost. Data from the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker shows that “more than 1 in 4 adults (28%) reported delaying or going without either medical care, prescription drugs, mental health care, or dental care due to costs” (KFF, 2023). These delays often aren't minor, and they can turn manageable conditions into emergencies. But even when someone can afford care, getting it isn't guaranteed. According to the CDC, "Among U.S. adults in 2022, 12.5% delayed or did not get medical care in the past 12 months because they were too busy to go to a provider, 10.6% could not find an available appointment when needed, 4.6% were unable to get to a provider when open,” (Harris & Pollard, 2023) These barriers are especially common in minority neighborhoods, where hospitals and specialists are often scarce.
I interviewed Paige, a low-income high school student from Chicago, who watched these barriers harm her own family. Her aunt became seriously ill last winter, and the family waited weeks before seeking care. “We knew she needed a doctor, but where we went either cost too much or said the next opening was weeks away.” Her experience makes one thing very clear, for many low-income minority families, healthcare is a calculation of survival.
An anonymous Northwestern Medicine doctor explained that these barriers are not accidental but built into the structure of American healthcare. “Many black and brown patients come to us with conditions that could’ve been managed earlier, but inconsistent access to primary care makes it all harder.” His experience reflects what many minority families face before they enter a doctor’s office.
Until affordability, accessibility, and cultural competency are addressed together, the U.S. healthcare system will continue to serve some communities first and others last. For millions of families, the consequences of that inequality aren’t just stats, they’re lived every single day.
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Paige G-student
Anonymous Northwestern Medicine Doctor
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