According to the National Healthcare Disparity Report, there are discrepancies in the delivery of health care service among certain groups such as low income families, minority groups, women, elderly, children, handicapped, among others. While minority groups have the biggest problems when it comes to health, they have the lowest rate of health care coverage. Hispanics constitute over two-thirds of uninsured children with fair or poor health (Results Educational Fund, n. d).
According to the 2002 National Survey of America’s Families conducted by Urban Institute, close to 570,000 children had no insurance and has fair or poor health conditions (Results Educational Fund, n. d). Disparities in the health care system were linked to citizenship and proficiency in the English language. Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured bared that non-American Hispanics who have minimal English proficiency are more prone to having no insurance, unlikely to avail of health care services, and more difficulty in discussing health problems with their providers (Results Educational Fund, n. d).
Most of the time, immigrants work in low-paying jobs that do not offer health care insurance and because they do not have sufficient funds, they remain without insurance. Groups that have a hard time speaking English as well as non-citizens have a difficulty accessing the needed health care coverage (Results Educational Fund, n. d). Changes in policy had a huge impact on the insurance coverage of immigrants and have limited their qualification for Medicaid.
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 canceled the accessibility of immigrants to the required benefits (Results Educational Fund, n. d). Health Care Is A Right Not A Privilege There are several groups and agencies that adhere to the idea that every person has the right to access health care. Among these groups include Physicians for a National Health Program, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), National Health Care for the Homeless, Inc.
, and the Friends Committee on National Legislation. The “Patient Bill of Rights” of the American Medical Association has included the right to basic health care (Cannon, 2007). For Dr. Don McCanne, who serves as Senior Health Policy Fellow of the Physicians for a National Health Program, every person has the right to receive universal health care. Providing insurance alone will not remove any disparity in health care. To do this, each individual must granted with the right to health insurance (Muhammad, 2006). In February 2006, Sen.
Sheila Kuehl sponsored Senate Bill 840 which provides private health care coverage for everyone, which means that the planholder can choose their doctor and provider as well as have a part in making medical decisions. The filing of the bill is not the first attempt of healthcare advocates to provide coverage for all Americans. Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco established the Universal Healthcare Council (UHC) to provide health insurance for its more than 80,000 residents (Muhammad, 2006). The UHC is made up of health care representatives, delegates from business, labor, and philanthropy and research sector.
The San Francisco Health Access Program (SFHAP) provides uninsured individuals in the state with an opportunity to avail of state and Federal health benefits for which they are qualified (Muhammad, 2006). The Congressional counterpart, authored by Rep. John Conyers, is the United States Health Insurance Act. House Resolution 676 provides extended Medicare benefits which includes primary care, mental health, dental, long-term care, and prescription drugs to all American citizens (Muhammad, 2006).