Access to Healthcare for the Poor Varies Widely Among States

Access to affordable, quality healthcare for poor Americans varies dramatically among the states, according to a new study that found a wide disparity in measures of health between states with the best healthcare systems and those with the worst.

In the highest-performing states, low-income, less educated residents are more likely to be covered by health insurance, to have a regular source of medical care and to get recommended preventive care, such as cancer screenings.

These Americans were also less likely to die prematurely or end up in the hospital for conditions such as diabetes and asthma, the report from the nonprofit Commonwealth Fund found.

"There are often two Americas when it comes to healthcare, divided by geography and income," the study's authors concluded.

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Source: L.A. Times