This Kaiser Family Foundation brief examines some of the key elements of health reform legislation that are likely to impact people of color. It also highlights the specific provisions of the proposed legislation that focus on health disparities, including efforts to expand access to health insurance through Medicaid and health exchanges, workforce development and expansions of community health centers.

From the report:

Expanding health coverage to many of the 46 million nonelderly uninsured is one of the major goals of the proposed health reform bills. People of color have higher uninsured rates than non-Hispanic whites, and Hispanics are the group with the highest uninsured rate (32%). Were it not for public coverage programs such as Medicaid, uninsured rates for all individuals, regardless or race would be higher. Having health coverage is an important determinant of access to health care. Fewer uninsured individuals have a usual source of care or receive preventive care screenings compared to insured individuals. The uninsured also have more preventable hospitalizations, and ultimately have worse health outcomes than those with insurance. In the U.S., most individuals receive their health coverage through an employer. However, with the exception of Asians, employer coverage rates for people of color are much lower than those of non-Hispanic whites (Figure 2). Building on the current system, the proposed legislation would provide coverage to the uninsured through individual and employer mandates, expansions to Medicaid, and the creation of a health exchange for individuals who would otherwise remain uninsured.

Full issue brief available at: Health Reform, Health Disparities and Communities of Color (PDF | 639.22 KB)

Kaiser Family Foundation. (2009). Health reform and communities of color: how might it affect racial and ethnic health disparities?