Illuminating Socioeconomic Barriers in Los Angeles County

If you’ve ever heard of Los Angeles, you’ve probably heard of the bustle and glamor of Hollywood, the near-perfect weather, and the ample opportunities people can find. Yet, in the midst of that dream, a structurally inherent problem persists, looming beneath the outward opulence of LA: healthcare access. To many, this is a luxury they cannot afford. In fact, the California Health Care Foundation found that 52% of California residents skip or delay medical care due to the costs of healthcare, and in LA county, where 1.3 million people live in poverty, the barriers are even more profound. 

The sheer cost to healthcare in LA creates a stark divide in who can access healthcare. To begin with, healthcare seems to be customized to people with wealth. In South LA, residents often have to travel miles to find the nearest clinic where they can find help, while in wealthier neighborhoods like Beverly Hills, people are able to find high-quality hospitals closeby. This geographic imbalance further exacerbates health outcomes, especially for those that are unable to afford private healthcare. 

Even further, people are forced to make decisions between certain needs. Food insecurity in particular is another major health barrier that relates to the socio economic crisis; in places where low-income citizens typically reside such as Boyle Heights, people cannot afford many healthy options, and many people will not purchase produce. Over “1,000,000 households and 44% of low income residents” face this issue, and with many people eating simply fast food as their main meals, it results in a slew of health issues. In East LA, “28% of adults are obese, and 9% have been diagnosed with diabetes.” With 1 in 10 people facing these issues, and this seeming to only rise, it is crucial that we begin to focus on this problem. 

Then, there’s the case for undocumented immigrants, where fear of having to be deported keeps people from seeking medical care. Although LA and California has been taking steps on this section of the issue with them expanding health insurance to all eligible undocumented adults, many adults still fear deportation, and lack access to areas with healthcare. Additionally, the perception that healthcare spaces are still not safe due to the lack of awareness about these changes in LA policy further worsen this issue.

Community clinics currently play a major role in diminishing the burden that people face, since they offer free services to people that really need it; however, they are often underfunded and overburdened, highling the need for more resources. Additionally, people still fear entering these places which makes it hard to get care. Even further, with the lack of awareness, not many of these clinics exist, and in cases when they do, they are often supported by the clinic staff instead of receiving constant funding.

All of this brings us to one conclusion: Los Angeles should prioritize policy changes that support vulnerable populations for healthcare. The steps that California has been taking such as expanding health insurance are certainly in the right direction, but spreading awareness about this issue and making it more publicized would significantly improve health issues. Additionally, focusing on the food insecurity issue that has been remaining as a root of this problem would also promote better long-term health for all.

Although healthcare is universally considered a human right, for many in LA, it remains as an unattainable hope. Through spreading awareness about these issues, we can begin to focus on these socioeconomic barriers, contributing to a healthier city for all of us.

Works Cited:

“The 2023 CHCF California Health Policy Survey.” California Health Care Foundation, 15 Feb. 2024, www.chcf.org/publication/2023-chcf-california-health-policy-survey/#related-links-and-downloads.

“Community Statistics.” Catholic Charities of LA, 26 Mar. 2024, 

catholiccharitiesla.org/community- statistics/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20U.S.%20Census,the%20county%20are%20deemed%20poor.

Hwang, Kristen. “California Expands Health Insurance to All Eligible Undocumented Adults.” CalMatters,

28 Dec. 2023 calmatters.org/health/2023/12/undocumented-health-insurance-new-california-laws-2024/.

Perez, Stephanie. “Food Deserts: The Struggle for Healthy Options in Lower-Income Communities.”

Boyle Heights Beat, 23 June 2024, boyleheightsbeat.com/food-deserts-the-struggle-for-healthy-options-in- lower-income-communities/.