Question: Why do you think there is a relationship between race and health insurance?

(Posted by: thesims on 2009-09-15 13:59:31)

Why do you think there is a relationship between race and health insurance?

Posted by: Gizmo on 2009-09-15, 14:23:15

Minorities are more likely to be poor, work jobs that don't provide healthcare and are low paying. Sometimes education can have a big impact on the type of jobs one attains, but minorities who have degrees find it harder to attain higher paying jobs then whites. Where I work there is a large number of minorities who have 1 degree or more and still find it hard to get a job with their degrees. It doesn't make sense that a person with a masters to do a job that a high school graduate with a few years of experience can do. I don't know if this has to do with discrimination, prejudice or racism, or if it has more to do with social networking because I know the more people you know the more chances you have in landing a high paying job.

Posted by: Witchy on 2009-09-15, 14:33:33

I think it has more to do with income level than anything else. A person living in poverty (and up to double the poverty rate) is eligible for Medicaid (free government medical insurance). Senior citizens and the disabled who are living in poverty are eligible for Medicare (low cost medical insurance). Veterans who are living in poverty receive medical care from the VA. Prisoners (who live in poverty for obvious reasons) receive free medical care. It seems to me that the majority of people in poverty are receiving free or low cost medical care. I don't know what the races of the people in these groups are.