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.