HEALTH INSURANCE

Our nation's health care system is failing millions of Americans every year. It cost too much, covers too little and excludes too many. Currently, one seventh of all Americans, 40 million people, lack insurance and suffer unnecessary illness and premature death. In fact, despite being first in spending, the World Health Organization has ranked the United States 37th among all nations in terms of meeting the needs of its people.

For ethnic minority Americans, the picture is even bleaker. Despite the numerous advances that have been made in health care over the decades, racial and ethnic minority Americans continue to suffer disproportionately from many severe health problems and have higher mortality rates than whites for many treatable health conditions. For example, diabetes strikes African Americans 70% more often than Caucasian Americans; Hispanic Americans twice as often as whites. The diabetes rate for Native Americans is even higher, striking members of this community 180% more often than Caucasian Americans. Furthermore, African Americans are 40% more likely to die from coronary heart disease and 35% more likely to die from cancer than whites.

As numerous studies over the last few years have shown, Americans of color do not receive the same level of health care as white Americans.