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December 2021 Newsletter
Issue #58
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Health Care: A Right or a Luxury? |
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American health care is the most expensive in the world, with 17.7% of gross domestic product (GDP) spent on healthcare. This is significantly more than other developed countries. Australia, for comparison, which spends the least, spends only 8.9%.
Yet for all this expense, life expectancy in the U.S. ranks 39th in world.
There are 82 million Americans living in areas that have a shortage of primary medical care.
From 2010 to 2020, the average annual health insurance deductible increased 111%.
From 2010 to 2020, the annual premiums for health insurance coverage for families of 2 or more increased 55%.
9% of the total U.S. population (about 29 million people) did not have health insurance in 2019 -- 6% of White Americans, 7% of Asian Americans, 10% of Black Americans and 19% of Hispanic Americans.
13% of all Americans, 16% of Black Americans and 20% of Hispanic Americans say there was a time in the past year when they needed to see a doctor but could not because of cost.
Due to cost in the past year, 21% of Americans say that they or a family member skipped a recommended medical treatment or test. 33% say that they did not take their medicines as prescribed at some point and 31% say that they or a family member relied on home remedies or over-the-counter drugs instead of going to see a doctor.
13% of Americans say there was a time in the past year when they needed to see a doctor but could not because of cost.
50% of Americans age 65 and older living alone say they lack the financial resources to pay for basic needs.
12% of Americans say that they would not be able to cover an emergency expense of $400.
There are approximately 45,000 deaths linked to a lack of health coverage – twice what was reported in 2002 by the Institute of Medicine.
According to a study of 9.5 million cancer patients,
42% of new cancer patients lost their entire life savings in 2 years because of the treatment. The average amount a cancer patient lost was $92,098 and 62% are in debt.
In 1973, 53% of Americans had a great deal of confidence in medicine. Since then the number has dropped to 38%.
The top 10 health care companies in the U.S. with their annual revenue:
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CVS -- $257.3 billion
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UnitedHealth Group -- $240.3 billion
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McKesson -- $224.9 billion
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AmerisourceBergen -- $182.1 billion
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Cigna -- $153.7 billion
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Cardinal Health -- $149.7 billion
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Walgreens -- $137.4 billion
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Anthem -- $104.2 billion
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Johnson & Johnson -- $82.1 billion
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Centene -- $74.6 billion
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Healthcare: Is it a Right or a Luxury?
A TED Talk featuring Tarik Sammour, who says that the answer each individual gives to this question depends largely on their previous experiences with medical care, and on their geographical background and personal philosophy. He argues that it is not as simple as it sounds and that it's imperative that we develop a shared understanding of what kind of healthcare system works best for society in general, and how to fund it effectively. Watch now.
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First Principles of Health Justice:
A Human Right to be Healthy
A TED Talk featuring Sridhar Venkatapuram, who argues that every human being has a human right to the capability to be healthy. In this talk, he takes viewers through the first principles required for health to be a human right: a shift to thinking about health as a capability and a recognition that health and health inequalities are questions of social justice. Watch now.
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The Power of Women:
A Doctor's Journey of Hope and Healing
By Denis Mukwege. A call-to-action from a renowned Nobel laureate doctor and human rights activist to confront sexual violence and better learn from women's resilience, strength, and power. Seeks to explain why sexual violence is so often overlooked during war, and how governments need to recognize and compensate victims. Stresses the importance of breaking down taboos surrounding assault, and the necessity of building a system that supports women who come forward. Calls for a reckoning with the West’s involvement in perpetuating sexual violence in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Korea, Latin America, and the Middle East to confront the abuse taking place in their own communities. The book also addresses men, encouraging and guiding them to become allies in the fight against sexual abuse, in war and in peace. Makes the case, that when women are involved as economic and political decision makers, all of society benefits. Read more.
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Why Open a School? - To Close a Prison
A TED Talk featuring Nadia Lopez, the founding principal of Mott Hall Bridges Academy in Brownsville, Brooklyn, one of the most underserved and violent neighborhoods in New York. She believes in every child's brilliance and capabilities and shares how she helps her scholars envision a brighter future for themselves and their families. Watch now.
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National Fair Housing Alliance
A voice for fair housing, NFHA works to eliminate housing discrimination and to ensure equal housing opportunity for all people through leadership, education, outreach, membership services, public policy initiatives, community development, advocacy, and enforcement. Learn more.
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Freecycle
A nonprofit organization made up of more than 5,000 local town groups with over 9 million members across the globe. It's a movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves resources and keeps useful things out of landfills. Membership is free, and everything posted is free, legal and appropriate for all ages.
People sign up with one or more local Town groups and/or invite local friends to form a Friends Circle. A member make a post about something he or she wants to gift or receive. Other members reply and then a pickup time and location is arranged.
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Theology and Ecology in Dialogue:
The Wisdom of Laudato Si
By Dermot Lane. Seeks to builds bridges between theology and ecology. Challenges theology to re-imagine who we are, who the Spirit is, who Christ is, where creation is going, and what is the role of liturgy in society―all in the glare of the climate crisis. Read more.
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The Little Market
A nonprofit fair trade shop featuring ethically sourced, artisan-made products. Behind each of their products is a person who created it — and a story. Seeks to empower artisans around the world by extending their products’ distribution and supporting sustainable income opportunities. Committed to upholding the dignity of artisans, celebrating their cultural techniques and traditions, and bringing attention to social justice and human rights issues faced by their communities. Learn more.
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Catholic Ethical Purchasing Alliance
A partnership between the Ignatian Solidarity Network and Ethix Merch, that supports people and institutions to integrate the values of Catholic Social Teaching into their purchasing decisions. Supports parishes, schools, colleges and universities by:
- Providing educational resources and immersive formational opportunities
- Organizing and advocacy training
- Networking and mentorship
- Establishing ethical purchasing values and expectations
- Increasing ethical purchasing
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On Fraternity and Social Friendship
By Marcus Mescher. A study guide to help readers learn more about Pope Francis' On Fraternity and Social Friendship -- an encyclical letter that makes connections with theological anthropology, moral theology, and ecumenism/interfaith dialogue. Reflects on the document, and looks for connections with the canon of Catholic social teaching, and ultimately leads toward action that builds "communities of belonging and solidarity."
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Important Dates This Month
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December 7th: Anniversary of the Publication of Joy & Hope (Gaudium et Spes)
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Individuals Honored This Month |
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December 10th
One way to stop the next war is to continue to tell the truth about this one.
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December 17th
Do not give up your dreams of a more just world.
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December 18th
Tradition has it that whenever a group of people has tasted the lovely fruits of wealth, security, and prestige, it begins to find it more comfortable to believe in the obvious lie and accept that it alone is entitled to privilege.
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December 27th
We are collecting the people’s memories because we want to contribute to the
construction of a different country. This path was and continues to be full of risks,
but the construction of the kingdom of God entails risks, and only those who have the strength to confront those risks can be its builders.
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Since 2017, more than 200,000 people have visited the Social Justice Resource Center website. We provide a wide variety of facts and figures on specific social issues as well as thousands of free resources including films, publications, links to other organizations, prayers, quotes, principles of social justice, key dates throughout the year, action ideas, Diocesan office contact information and biographies of famous people who have worked for social justice.
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please let us know!
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contact@socialjusticeresourcecenter.org |
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