By Dr. Joynicole Martinez
Special To The Carolinian
The numbers don’t lie. While healthcare costs have tripled since 2005, Black and brown people are paying an even steeper price—literally.
If you’ve ever felt like the healthcare system wasn’t built for people who look like you, you’re not imagining things. The data proves what our communities have known for generations: we’re paying more, getting less, and struggling harder to access quality care than our white counterparts.
Here’s what’s really happening in 2025:
Healthcare costs have skyrocketed 286 percent since 2005, but wages have only increased 84 percent. That gap? It’s hitting Black and Latino families the hardest. According to The Century Foundation, by 2019, health care premiums as a percentage of compensation were 19.2 percent for Black families and 19.8 percent for Hispanic families, while they were only 13.8 percent for White families.
What that means: Nearly 1 in 5 dollars that Black and Latino families earn goes straight to healthcare premiums—before they even see a doctor.
Despite progress under the Affordable Care Act, the numbers are still staggering. The US Department of Health and Human Services reported:
- Hispanic people had a 20 percent uninsured rate in 2023, while the uninsured rate for nonelderly Latinos decreased from 32.7 percent to 18.0 percent from 2010 to 2022
- The uninsured rate among nonelderly Black Americans decreased by 10 percentage points, from 20.9 percent in 2010 to 10.8 percent in 2022
- More than half of Hispanic/Latino adults are inadequately insured.
What “inadequately insured” really means: You have insurance on paper, but the deductibles and out-of-pocket costs are so high that you still can’t afford to use it when you need it most.
It isn’t all about money. It’s about power. The healthcare disparities we face aren’t accidents. They stem from a long history of structural racism in American policies. Here’s what’s really keeping us from getting the care we deserve:
- Black and brown people are less likely than other groups to have health insurance, more likely to delay care because of costs, and more likely to incur medical debt. Many of our communities are in healthcare deserts—areas where quality providers are scarce and wait times are longer.
- When over 45 percent of Hispanic Americans have a close friend or family member who needs a Spanish-speaking health care provider or translator, it’s clear the system isn’t meeting the needs of the individuals that require care.
- Many jobs either don’t offer health insurance or offer plans with deductibles that erode cash on hand for necessities. Junk plans are a reality, and so is the decision too many people have to make between paying rent, buying groceries, or going to the doctor.
In response to a Pew Research Center survey, more than half of Hispanic adults said that, because of costs, they either did not fill a prescription, did not go for follow-up tests or specialty care their doctor recommended, or skipped going to the doctor entirely when they were sick.
One in five adults without coverage said that they went without needed care in the past year because of cost compared to 5.1 percent of adults with private coverage.
More than sixty percent of uninsured adults report having health care debt compared to over forty percent of insured adults. This debt doesn’t just affect your credit—it affects your ability to buy a home, start a business, or build generational wealth.
So, what’s next?
1. Know Your Rights and Options
- Check if you qualify for Medicaid - while you still can - even if you think you make “too much” money. The income limits are higher than many people realize.
- Explore Healthcare.gov during open enrollment periods. You might qualify for subsidies that make coverage affordable.
- Look into community health centers that offer sliding-scale fees based on your income.
2. Advocate, Advocate, Advocate
- Don’t accept the first answer if you’re denied coverage or claims. Ask to speak with a supervisor.
- Bring an advocate to important medical appointments if language is a barrier. Don’t back down from asking for a translator, caseworker, patient advocate, or anyone who makes you feel comfortable and helps you understand.
- Document everything—keep records of all communications with insurance companies.
3. Fight for Policy Changes With Your Vote
Healthcare shouldn’t bankrupt you. You shouldn’t have to choose between paying to live in your house and paying for insulin. You shouldn’t need a translator or legal team to understand what your insurance covers.
The fight for healthcare equity isn’t just about policy—it’s about survival. Every individual in our nation deserves access to quality, affordable healthcare without going into debt.
I recently had a conversation with a friend who said, “There’s nothing to be done, this wasn’t built for us.” If that’s true, that doesn’t mean we can’t change it. Knowledge is power, and knowing your options is the first step toward getting the care you deserve.
Share this article with someone who needs to see it. Because looking out for each other isn’t just nice—it’s necessary.
