Premium
Health Disparities, Social Determinants of Health, and Health Insurance
Author(s) -
Stewart Rosalyn W.,
Hardcastle Valerie G.,
Zelinsky Aaron
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
world medical and health policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.326
H-Index - 11
ISSN - 1948-4682
DOI - 10.1002/wmh3.113
Subject(s) - social determinants of health , panacea (medicine) , health equity , race and health , mental health , health insurance , health policy , health belief model , environmental health , health promotion , medicine , gerontology , economic growth , public health , health care , psychiatry , economics , nursing , alternative medicine , pathology
We are concerned that providing insurance for the previously uninsured will be seen as a panacea for resolving health disparities, for the social environment makes a tremendous difference in health outcomes. A careful examination of the factors involved in the social determinants of health shows that health insurance plays only a small role in alleviating health disparities. In this commentary, we highlight the complexity of the problem of the social determinants of health and health disparities in the United States by comparing two neighborhoods in Baltimore City and by examining hypertension and mental health disorders .