The last few years have underlined the inequity in the U.S. healthcare system, as Black Americans had the highest mortality rate in the face of COVID. And while some employers are working to design more inclusive, accessible benefits, it may not be enough to rewrite centuries of racial bias in healthcare.
According to The COVID Tracking Project, Black Americans died at a 1.4 times higher rate from COVID in the first half of the pandemic than their white counterparts. While affordability and accessibility certainly play a role, this inequity goes deeper than the herculean task of finding the right doctor at the right price — racial bias is built into the way healthcare providers assess patients when treating COVID, as well as other ailments.
