For without a doubt, health care inequality is evident in the United States (US). In this particular instance, it is Latino Immigrants who receive insubstantial health care access. For example, immigrant women of Mexican birth “are at increased risk for developing many preventable health conditions due in part to limited access to healthcare and benefits” (Castaneda, et al. 2014). The issue is the US healthcare system is unequitable when it comes to immigrant status. I will examine if Latino immigrants coming to the United States receive limited health care access due to biopower (Foucault, 1984) in order to argue that the inequity in the US healthcare system is unjust. This topic is crucial for understanding American society because I want
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In fact, the word unequal is an understatement. They receive insubstantial health care access. Beginning with the inequity, “studies reveal there are disparities in health care service use among Latinos relative to non-Latino Whites” (Jesus and Xiao, 2014). These studies suggest that Latinos, compared to Caucasians, do not utilize health care services as much. In terms of probability, “Latino patients are significantly less likely than non-Latino White patients to have had a physician visit in the past 12 months” (Jesus and Xiao, 2014). Do Latinos see a general practitioner less often because they are less likely to get sick? No, on the contrary, “with limited access to health services through public programs and low levels of employer based coverage, immigrant families traditionally have sought health coverage through community health centers, often with somewhat inadequate services” (Siantz, et al. 2013). It is interesting to note immigrants seek an alternative way of taking care of their health, as opposed to the traditional seeing their doctor. Other than community health centers, Latino immigrants use “treatment often consisted of home remedies, over-the-counter medications, or leftover medications” (Castaneda and Melo, 2014). So far, the inequality is clear. Immigrant Latino families seek other means of attaining health care access. But, the question of why still lingers on. The …show more content…
When it comes to the US border, the “southwest border has been turned into a zone of abandonment. It is a place where their lives are being forsaken to the point of death” (Inda, 2002). The facts and statistics are truly disheartening. The US health care system does not provide adequate opportunities for Immigrant Latino families. This leads many families to be uninsured. Let’s face it. Everyone gets sick. So, in fear of either deportation or losing immigrant eligibility rights, they turn to a ‘underground’ means of getting better. If immigrant Latino families receive limited health care access, then what is stopping them from speaking out for themselves? The answer is simple, it is the same reason preventing them from getting insurance in the first place, it is fear. How can Latino immigrants speak for themselves if they do not have a voice? That it to say, they are the population that are socially and politically outside of the hegemonic power structure. In order to get one’s head around how Latino immigrants got into this position in the first place, it is key to realize how bodies are subjugated and populations are
In fact, the word unequal is an understatement. They receive insubstantial health care access. Beginning with the inequity, “studies reveal there are disparities in health care service use among Latinos relative to non-Latino Whites” (Jesus and Xiao, 2014). These studies suggest that Latinos, compared to Caucasians, do not utilize health care services as much. In terms of probability, “Latino patients are significantly less likely than non-Latino White patients to have had a physician visit in the past 12 months” (Jesus and Xiao, 2014). Do Latinos see a general practitioner less often because they are less likely to get sick? No, on the contrary, “with limited access to health services through public programs and low levels of employer based coverage, immigrant families traditionally have sought health coverage through community health centers, often with somewhat inadequate services” (Siantz, et al. 2013). It is interesting to note immigrants seek an alternative way of taking care of their health, as opposed to the traditional seeing their doctor. Other than community health centers, Latino immigrants use “treatment often consisted of home remedies, over-the-counter medications, or leftover medications” (Castaneda and Melo, 2014). So far, the inequality is clear. Immigrant Latino families seek other means of attaining health care access. But, the question of why still lingers on. The …show more content…
When it comes to the US border, the “southwest border has been turned into a zone of abandonment. It is a place where their lives are being forsaken to the point of death” (Inda, 2002). The facts and statistics are truly disheartening. The US health care system does not provide adequate opportunities for Immigrant Latino families. This leads many families to be uninsured. Let’s face it. Everyone gets sick. So, in fear of either deportation or losing immigrant eligibility rights, they turn to a ‘underground’ means of getting better. If immigrant Latino families receive limited health care access, then what is stopping them from speaking out for themselves? The answer is simple, it is the same reason preventing them from getting insurance in the first place, it is fear. How can Latino immigrants speak for themselves if they do not have a voice? That it to say, they are the population that are socially and politically outside of the hegemonic power structure. In order to get one’s head around how Latino immigrants got into this position in the first place, it is key to realize how bodies are subjugated and populations are