Final answer:
Being poorer affects access to health-related services as the poor are often uninsured or underinsured, leading to delayed care and reliance on emergency services. This creates an economic externality that affects the entire healthcare system. Geography of care also plays a role, as poor nations and areas have fewer healthcare providers, which is linked to higher mortality rates and health issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The impact of being poorer on accessing appropriate health-related services is significant and multifaceted. Poor individuals are not seen as attractive customers by profit-driven healthcare providers and prior to the Affordable Care Act, many had limited means to obtain health insurance, often relying on Medicaid. The uninsured, therefore, may delay seeking medical help until their condition necessitates emergency care, which is more costly and less efficient for managing health. These costs can be then passed on to insured patients, creating an economic externality.
Health inequality is impacted by numerous factors including higher rates of unemployment and lower rates of home ownership, education, and wealth. It is also intertwined with social issues like racism and sexism. Poor health care in both the United States and globally can lead to more serious health issues, and as sociologists Neckerman and Torche suggest, can perpetuate a cycle of poverty that is difficult to escape.
Geographically, there are variations in the quality of health care, with poor nations and impoverished areas within countries often having fewer health care providers per capita. This lack contributes to higher maternal and infant mortality rates, as well as a myriad of health issues throughout life, indicative of the geographical geography of care. Compounding this is the cost of healthcare, which disproportionately affects women and marginalized groups, who often delay or avoid seeking medical treatment due to expenses.