Describe the lack of access to healthcare in the United States.Lack of Healthcare Access

Access to Healthcare is limited

In 2020, a Journal of the American Medical Association study found that while the United States has the highest healthcare spending in the world, the access to health care is still a major problem for many Americans (Zhang et. al. 2020). This is especially true for people from low income and racial/ethnic minorities. Cost is a major barrier to accessing healthcare. The American Journal of Public Health published a study in 2021 that found “nearly four out of four Americans aged 18 to 64 reported not having filled a prescription, seeing a doctor when they are sick or getting the recommended treatment because of costs” (Baker and al., 2002). Untreated conditions could lead to even more severe and expensive health issues down the road. Many parts of America, especially rural ones, are also affected by a lack of primary care providers. According to Shi et. al. 2019, more than 60 million Americans live in regions with low primary care provider numbers. This was according to a 2019 Annals of Internal Medicine study. People living in such areas may find it hard to get basic healthcare services.