Kaiser Permanente thrive » health-policy

Speaking out on health care reform

admin11kcesarz — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:14:37 +0000

Health care reform is one of the most complex issues of our times. But it's important that we have an understanding of what is happening and how it affects us. Here are simple principles to guide us — from affordable universal coverage and consumer choice to wellness and prevention, learn where we stand in this great debate.

Lack of health care for millions causes more sickness for Americans

admin10kavesian — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:36:16 +0000

That millions of Americans lack good health care due to “racial and ethnic disparities in health care is shocking in a society committed to equality,” says George C. Halvorson, chairman and CEO, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals.

Kaiser Permanente recently published several ads that label the issue a national disgrace and urge lawmakers to do something about it.

The ads, which focus on health care disparities in the Latino and Asian/Pacific Islander communities, note that Americans spend $2.5 trillion on health care and yet millions of uninsured Americans avoid care and get sick solely because they lack coverage.

Learn more about what you can do to end health care disparities in America.

Are health care inequalities making Americans sick?

admin10kavesian — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:38:52 +0000

You might believe that no factors impact your health as much as your personal behaviors, genes, and the quality of your medical care. However, research has found that the social conditions in which we live and work affect health and longevity far more. That’s why having thriving communities is so important.

A groundbreaking PBS documentary looks at how issues of wealth, power, and privilege contribute to ongoing health problems. In fact, the United States spends $2 trillion a year on health care, yet ranks 30th in life expectancy among industrialized nations.

“There are ways in which our society is organized that are bad for our health,” says Nicolas Christakis, MD. “And there’s no doubt that we could reconfigure ourselves in ways that would benefit our health.” Meanwhile, epidemiologist Ichiro Kawachi, MD, points out that factors such as health care can only affect so much. “Health care can deal with the diseases and illnesses — but the lack of health care is not the cause of illness and disease,” he says. “It is like saying since aspirin cures a fever, the lack of aspirin must be the cause of the fever.”

View a preview of this documentary to learn how our social environments can trump even medical care, behaviors, and genes when it comes to our health.