Issues

Addressing racial health disparities and promoting health equity

Long-standing social structures and discrimination have systematically harmed the health of generations of Americans simply due to their race. Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are working to promote health equity and reduce barriers to good health with culturally appropriate, community-based interventions.

BCBS companies are intervening to address racial health inequities that have for too long troubled the U.S. health care system, and far too often lead to lower levels of overall health and wellness.

BLACK, NATIVE AMERICAN AND ALASKA NATIVE women are 2X more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. 

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nationwide, BLACK people are dying from COVID-19 at a rate of 1.6X that of white people.

Source: The COVID Tracking Project at The Atlantic.

Health insurance coverage varies by race, with Blacks 1.5X more likely to be UNINSURED and Hispanics 2.5X more likely to LACK COVERAGE compared to whites. 

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, Changes in Health Coverage by Race and Ethnicity since the ACA, 2010-2018.

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Addressing health disparities and inequities

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WE SUPPORT A NUMBER OF ACTIONS AND STRATEGIES TO ELIMINATE RACIAL HEALTH DISPARITIES AND INEQUITIES

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Target Interventions

Improve maternal health outcomes, expand access to behavioral health services and address inequities in vaccination rates and access to care.

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More diverse workforce

Support the growth of a diverse health care workforce and culturally appropriate training for all healthcare workers.

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Access to Care

Enhance the Affordable Care Act to improve access to care

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Harness technology and data

Improve measurements and standardize the collection and availability of demographic data, including race, ethnicity and language. 

Learn more about what we recommend to address health disparities and inequities in communities of color

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