Lesson Starter List the different aspects of life in a ghetto. List the main features of a middle class suburb. You have 5 minutes to complete this task. Help each other!

What you will learn Some groups face health inequalities with health in the USA. What the government does to solve these problems.

Success Criteria Identify and explain the health inequalities that exist with health in the USA. Identify what Medicaid and Medicare are. Explain, briefly, Obama’s planned reform.

Task Look at these two logos. What do you think each of them are? What do they represent? Clue: they are linked to health.

Answer: The USA does not have a National Health service like Britain. In the USA people have to take out private health insurance for themselves or their families. The main medical insurance companies are Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

The Statistics 42% of people in the USA have no health care cover. There are over 8 million children in the USA who have no cover. 10% of White Americans have no insurance, this is compared to 34% of Hispanics.

Task Using your ‘placemat’ In your own, write down the consequences of not having health insurance. Now in your groups, make a list of 3.

Answer: Lack of routine care which can detect and cure health problems before they become serious. Only getting medical help when things are serious. If you have no insurance you are more likely to die before seeking medical help than an insured person. Less access to new technology which could save your life.

Health Problems Facing Black and Hispanic Americans. Blacks and Hispanics are 3 times more likely to have no medical insurance cover. Black and Hispanic children were less likely to visit the doctor. Black and Hispanics face greater health problems. There is also a very high infant mortality rate. Health Problems Facing Black and Hispanic Americans. Drug and gang related problems. Blacks and Hispanics are more likely to die from guns and drugs. Obesity- 30% of Blacks and 25% of Hispanics are obese. Linked to drug abuse is the incidence of AIDS. This is on the increase.

Medicare and Medicaid People over 65 get Medicare and poor people get Medicaid. These are schemes paid by the government, but they do not cover all treatments and many doctors won’t treat you unless you have PMI (Private Medical Insurance).

Barack Obama Barack Obama would like everyone to have health insurance. It is possible that the USA may be moving closer towards a health insurance system in which everyone is forced to take out cover with the federal government helping to subsidise the premium for the poorest groups.

Medicare and Medicaid People over 65 get Medicare and poor people get Medicaid. These are schemes paid by the government, but they do not cover all treatments and many doctors won’t treat you unless you have PMI (Private Medical Insurance).

Can I… Identify and explain the inequalities that exist with health in the USA.