By: Jennifer Duran, Camden Academy Charter High School, Camden
SOUTH JERSEY – A troubling reality is emerging in New Jersey: according to a survey performed in October 2022, more than 4 in 5 residents (85%) face the overwhelming challenge of affording healthcare. The emotional toll of sickness, combined with the worry of being unable to pay for vital care, is an unfortunate narrative that many people have to experience. This struggle is linked to social determinants of health, which include factors like safe housing, transportation, income, and access to nutritional meals, all of which have a significant impact on people’s well-being and quality of life.
South Jersey is home to the majority of the state’s unhealthiest counties. The financial burden of housing is critical, affecting approximately one out of every three homeowners and one out of every two renters who spend 30% or more of their income on housing. Because of the burden of housing expenses, families have fewer resources to prioritize their health.
However, where you live does not entirely influence the impact on health. The length and quality of life are collectively shaped by structural factors such as the quality of local schools, access to healthy foods, and discrimination. Alarming inequities remain for Brown and Black New Jersey residents as a result of systemic racism, shown in poverty, unemployment, and income inequality.
An example is shown in maternal and infant outcomes, where disparities are not the result of differences in genes or behavior, but the result of the different historical, social, economic, and health environments experienced by Black and Brown women. These economic and social differences matter for health, and as long as they exist, so will the disparities in maternal and infant health.
In a broader sense, the expensive costs of healthcare and treatment present a difficult barrier. Having an insurance card represents a level of protection, yet many people are still uninsured due to significant prices. This situation is exacerbated by rising health insurance prices, which are fueled by factors such as rising prescription drug costs and a lack of transparency in claims data.
In the midst of healthcare issues, a painful reality emerges when people are forced to pay for needed medicine out of pocket. It is upsetting that, in some cases, people dealing with health concerns are given only one option: to carry the financial burden alone. This situation serves as a harsh reminder of the fundamental problems that exist in our healthcare system.
Nobody should have to choose between their health and their financial security, but many people feel forced to do so. The idea that access to life-saving medications depends on one’s ability to pay defies basic human rights. Healthcare and critical medication should not be considered amenities, but rather basic rights.
In a way, it’s like the idea that some patients are expected to pay for their survival, which is a troubling fact that needs serious change. The hope of a healthier society should not be a privilege, but an untouchable right available to all, regardless of their financial situation.
Another barrier is a lack of providers and services, which many South Jersey residents can be familiar with. As a South Jersey resident who has firsthand experience with this issue, I can relate to the frustration of finding specialists who accept insurance, with long wait times and costs out of pocket further restricting access to necessary care.
The struggle for healthcare access is frustrating and influenced by social determinants, structural factors, and systemic inequities. Recognizing the interconnection of these issues is essential for overcoming this problem. It requires persistent advocacy and united efforts toward equitable solutions that prioritize every individual’s health and well-being, building a society where proper medical care is not a privilege but a fundamental right.
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