Its medical technology expertise is evident in the many success stories of curing severe illness and prolonging life. The quality of medical training in the United States has also been very high, benefiting those who have access to the services of doctors and other health professionals. Unfortunately, the excesses of the present system are beginning to erode many of these achievements. Within this group are some of the most vulnerable members of society, particularly 11 to 13 million children. Not surprisingly, the poor, the aging, women, children, people with disabilities, and persons of color are most at risk in this system.
Black women die from cervical cancer at three times the rate of white women.
Black Americans have a significantly lower life-span than white Americans and Hispanics have the least access to the health care system of any group. Native Americans, besides suffering greatly from alcoholism, have a substantially higher tuberculosis rate than average U.S. rates. Recent immigrants who experience health problems find the health care system poorly equipped to meet their needs. Even persons with middle income have difficulty finding affordable, quality care. Families in which a member suffers from catastrophic illness find their health insurance premiums priced so high they can no longer afford them, or in some cases, insurance is canceled.