Uninsured and Unhealthy: The Health Insurance Woes of African Americans

The recent Supreme Court ruling upholding Obamacare may be a small victory for many Americans, but it is no small comfort for Blacks.  

Finance Online presents an infographic that highlights the alarming state of African Americans and their health coverage, or the lack of it. But the Act’s implementation may create an unexpected twist. The High Court has ruled also that states can opt out of the partly federal-funded Medicaid in lieu of applying Obamacare to their health program.

Some argue that this, in turn, can put the burden on the federal treasury, money that may be more wisely used to prop up the economy instead of supporting a non-performing sector, namely jobless Americans. The echo is still fresh hearing Congressman Rob Woodall and majority of the House in 2011 having tried to repeal the health care bill, saying it’s a job-killing formula. Will they be right or proven wrong? The next few months will give Georgians the answer.

Using data from the  US Census Bureau and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Finance Online created the infographic showing Blacks are less likely to be covered and less likely to cope with an illness than Hispanics and Whites. The infographic also paints a grim picture for the minority groups, including: a) more elderly African Americans will need care; and b) areas with more Blacks have the highest concentration of uninsured African Americans.

With Obamacare set for full implementation by next year, understanding the big picture is more critical than ever, especially for marginalized groups.

You can see the full version of the infographic here.