HEALTHCARE: THE INEQUALITY THAT KILLS

As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this week, one of his lesser-known but most insightful quotes comes to mind: "Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhuman because it often results in physical death." Delivered in 1966 at the Second National Convention of the Medical Committee for Human Rights, these words called out a brutal truth that is just as urgent today: healthcare inequality doesn't just put individuals at a disadvantage, it kills them.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010—passed forty-four years after Dr. King's call for justice—seemed to mark a turning point in the right direction, something he would have been proud of. America extended coverage to tens of millions of uninsured, prohibited insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, and expanded Medicaid to millions more low-income families.

Yet here we are today with Congress debating whether to dismantle the ACA. This policy battle could strip health insurance from millions, and literally determine who lives and who dies. Some things can be addressed later in life, such as educational and economic inequalities, but when it comes to health inequality, many of us don't get a second chance. A delayed cancer diagnosis, a chronic condition left untreated, or refusal to treat a childhood disability – these are consequences that often cannot be undone.

If Dr. King were here today, he would call this moment what it is: a step backward.  I think he would ask the same questions he asked in 1966: “Why, in a nation of such abundance, do we accept that some people die from treatable conditions? Why do we tolerate a system where your health depends on your wealth? Why do we allow political calculations to override moral imperatives when human lives hang in the balance?”

The answers to these questions will reveal not only the equity in our healthcare system, but also our commitment to the values Dr. King lived and died for. This debate to end the ACA is happening in real time, and we’ll soon see where we stand.

In the meantime, here’s one thing I know for sure: While we can’t control everything that happens in Washington, we can control how we respond, which reminds me of another of Dr. King’s quotes: “The time is always right to do what is right.”  Taking charge of your health - while you can - is the right thing to do, and the time is right now!

Do the right thing, Be Well!

If you’d like some support taking charge of your health, or know someone who feels stuck, I’m here to help. Reach out to me at smallchange@myrtlerussell.com.  

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