Final answer:
Low-income and ethnic minority patients are more likely to use emergency departments for healthcare due to systemic disparities in access to health insurance and medical facilities. These disparities arise from socioeconomic factors, historical health care segregation, and the location of hospitals favoring insured patients.
Step-by-step explanation:
Low-income and minority groups in the United States often face healthcare disparities due to socioeconomic factors, as noted in research by Winkleby et al. (1992) which highlights socioeconomic status (SES) as a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality. Several studies, including Manuel (2018), have found that these populations are more likely to rely on emergency room visits for healthcare due to a lack of access to regular medical facilities. Factors contributing to this include unaffordable health insurance, fewer clinics in poverty-stricken areas, and historical segregation policies that shaped access to healthcare facilities. Consequently, many low-income and ethnic minority patients turn to emergency departments, where care must be provided regardless of the patient's ability to pay, as a last resort for medical issues that often become crises due to the lack of preventative care.