Chronic health conditions among minority groups are expected to strain Medicare and Medicaid in coming decades, according to recent analyses of health disparities in the United States.
Federal data show notable differences in health profiles across racial and ethnic groups, with Black, Hispanic, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander adults more likely to report fair or poor health compared to white counterparts. These groups also have higher uninsured rates among adults aged 18-64.
A 2023 KFF analysis found that Black, Hispanic and Indigenous people fared worse than white people on most measures of health, healthcare access, and social determinants of health. Asian people generally fared similar to or better than white counterparts.
Key disparities include greater lack of health insurance, lower rates of preventive care, less access to regular providers, higher infant mortality, and increased food insecurity among non-white, non-elderly groups.
“The U.S. is suffering from lower life expectancy than comparable nations,” wrote FDA Commissioner Robert Califf and advisor Haider Warraich in The Hill, citing chronic disease as a major factor.
A Yale study found 1.63 million excess deaths in the Black population compared to white Americans, representing over 80 million excess years of potential life lost.
Experts warn these trends will put increasing pressure on Medicare and Medicaid as minority populations age. Policymakers face difficult funding decisions related to care access and insurance programs as they attempt to promote health equity and address past discriminatory policies.
See “Disparities in chronic conditions offer clues about future Medicare spending” (March 19, 2024)
