Introduction The LGBT individuals are just like their hetrosexual counterparts in many aspects of living. Both groups have a concern with economics related to living today and saving for tomorrow. The major difference between the two groups economically is the LGBT community suffers from a greater level of discrimination. LGBT people face the same socio-economic challenges that other people who share their sex, race, ethnicity, age, and disability face, but they also face unique hindrances because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. These include a higher risk of being homeless when they are young, harassment and discrimination at school and on the job, and until recently denied the economic benefits of marriage. When it comes
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In particular, research suggests that some subgroups of the LGBT community have more chronic conditions as well as higher prevalence and earlier onset of disabilities than heterosexuals. (Kaiser Family Foundation 2014) The LGBT community does suffer at higher rates of certain major health issues to include HIV/AIDS, mental illness, substance use, and physical violence. In addition to the higher rates of illness, many LGBT older individuals are more likely to experience barriers obtaining health care. The challenges include gaps in coverage, higher deductibles, and poor care from bigoted providers. In recent years changes within the law have improved access to healthcare for the LGBT community and have made health insurance more accessible. Many of these changes have came about due to the Supreme Court’s overturning of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in United States v. Windsor and subsequent ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.(www.supremecourt.gov 2015) Also the Affordable Care Act increased access to health coverage for LGBT individuals, and the ACA includes protections related to sexual orientation and gender identity. . The biggest social issue older LGBT adults face are social isolation. Because LGBT older adults are more likely to live alone in their retirement years, they have a greater risk of isolation and more likely to have little to no support and less likely to have children than their heterosexual counterparts. Also, many LGBT individuals as they age lose their non-family support system that in their younger years made up a major of their support system. In later years many LGBT
In particular, research suggests that some subgroups of the LGBT community have more chronic conditions as well as higher prevalence and earlier onset of disabilities than heterosexuals. (Kaiser Family Foundation 2014) The LGBT community does suffer at higher rates of certain major health issues to include HIV/AIDS, mental illness, substance use, and physical violence. In addition to the higher rates of illness, many LGBT older individuals are more likely to experience barriers obtaining health care. The challenges include gaps in coverage, higher deductibles, and poor care from bigoted providers. In recent years changes within the law have improved access to healthcare for the LGBT community and have made health insurance more accessible. Many of these changes have came about due to the Supreme Court’s overturning of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in United States v. Windsor and subsequent ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.(www.supremecourt.gov 2015) Also the Affordable Care Act increased access to health coverage for LGBT individuals, and the ACA includes protections related to sexual orientation and gender identity. . The biggest social issue older LGBT adults face are social isolation. Because LGBT older adults are more likely to live alone in their retirement years, they have a greater risk of isolation and more likely to have little to no support and less likely to have children than their heterosexual counterparts. Also, many LGBT individuals as they age lose their non-family support system that in their younger years made up a major of their support system. In later years many LGBT