A recent study by the Commonwealth Fund revealed that health care disparities in the United States are particularly severe for Black and Hispanic individuals compared to white individuals. In New England, Connecticut stands out for having more significant racial and ethnic disparities in health care than many other states. Despite Black people in Connecticut ranking fifth out of 39 states for overall health care outcomes, they still experienced major gaps in performance across several areas.
The study found that Black individuals were more than twice as likely as white individuals to die before the age of 75 from treatable causes in Connecticut. Additionally, Black individuals aged 65 and older had nearly double the rate of potentially avoidable ER visits and hospital readmissions within 30 days compared to white individuals. The infant mortality rate for Black babies was over three times higher than that for white babies in the state.
In terms of insurance coverage, 16% of Hispanic individuals in Connecticut were uninsured, compared to only 4% of white individuals. However, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations fared relatively well in terms of health outcomes compared to other states. White individuals overall had some of the best health outcomes in the nation, ranking fourth in the study.
The study emphasized that addressing these disparities will require targeted efforts to improve health care access and outcomes for marginalized communities. It is essential to acknowledge that these disparities exist and work towards solutions that will help bridge the gap between different racial groups’ access to quality healthcare services.