Health Disparities
Article | December 2020
Learn about health disparities and find resources to address health disparities among your patients.
What are health disparities?
The
A health disparity is a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social or economic disadvantage.1
Health disparities negatively affect groups of people who have systematically experienced greater social and/or economic obstacles to health and/or a clean environment.
Such disparities are not new to health care, but COVID-19 exacerbates existing disparities in many sub-populations.
Health disparities can impact the following:
- Racial or ethnic groups
- Religion
- Socioeconomic status
- Gender
- Age
- Mental health
- Cognitive, sensory, or physical disability
- Sexual orientation or gender identity
- Geographic location
- Characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion
Featured Resources
Cultural Competency
Health Disparities: How Your Practice and Patients May Be Affected
Cigna Healthcare Language Assistance Services
COVID-19 Health Disparities
Learn more about health disparities related to COVID-19.
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Delay or Avoidance of Medical Care Because of COVID-19–Related Concerns [PDF]
Health Disparities Worsened By COVID-19: Provider Resources
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Questions from Cigna Healthcare Doctors: Check In On Your Emotional Health When Social Distancing
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How to Address Health Disparities
Cigna HealthcareSM strongly supports the American Hospital Association’s #123forEquity Pledge to Act Campaign that urges hospital and health system leaders to develop and implement strategies to:
Take Action
Ready to make an action plan for your practice that addresses health disparities? Visit these resources to get started:
Medicare Providers
More Resources on Health Equity
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1 National Partnership for Action (NPA),
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