Black communities in many U.S. cities suffer disproportionately from health care debt. The reasons go back to segregation and racist policies that have limited Black wealth.
Midcentury urban renewal and highway-building in Knoxville, Tennessee, wiped out the Black business district and neighborhoods like The Bottom."We concentrated Black poverty," says city council member Gwen McKenzie.Midcentury urban renewal and highway-building in Knoxville, Tennessee, wiped out the Black business district and neighborhoods like The Bottom."We concentrated Black poverty," says city council member Gwen McKenzie.
"It hasn't always been easy," said Reed, who just turned 60. She raised her son by herself. And though she's always worked, her modest salary made saving difficult."I just tried to live a frugal kind of life," she said."And by the grace of God, I didn't become homeless." Reed said she cut back on trips to the grocery store:"I don't buy a lot of food. Just plain and simple."
The expansion of Medicaid, in particular, has brought new financial security to millions of low-income Americans. In a Of the roughly 2.2 million people locked out of health coverage because these states rejected Medicaid expansion, nearly 60% are people of color, according toLocked out of health insurance, many just try to hang on until they become eligible for Medicare, said Cynthia Finch, an advocate in Knoxville who has worked to improve health in the city's Black community."People pray they don't get sick before they are 65," she said.
At the courthouse in downtown Knoxville, the dockets are filled with debt collection lawsuits filed by some of the region's largest hospitals: Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, East Tennessee Children's Hospital, and Parkwest Medical Center.
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