Summary:
- Challenges in accessing healthcare, including insurance issues, staffing shortages, and transportation barriers, are driving Americans to seek alternatives.
- Online medical care, gaining popularity since COVID-19, is now a key solution for those needing timely medical consultations.
- The Commonwealth Fund’s Scorecard highlights stark differences in healthcare access. States like Massachusetts and Hawaii offer the best access, while Mississippi and Texas are among the most difficult.
- Insurance coverage is a critical factor, but geography may also play a role. Smaller, densely-populated states like Massachusetts offer better access compared to larger states like Texas.
- Nationwide issues include a shortage of primary care providers and language barriers. Online medical clinics can help with these challenges by reducing unnecessary hospital visits, while also having the potential to overcome language and socio-economic barriers.
Healthcare Models Are Changing Across the US
Americans still face looming obstacles when it comes to accessing healthcare in 2024—and although much of the public conversation revolves around inadequate insurance coverage, that’s far from the only problem. Staffing shortages, language barriers, and transportation challenges also make it difficult for many to access appropriate care in a timely manner, and the consequences of not doing so can be felt on a national scale.
In response, many people across the country are considering alternatives to traditional doctor visits. Online medical providers, which became significantly more mainstream since COVID-19, are now the preferred method of accessing healthcare for many people who cannot afford to wait, take time off, or travel extensively when they need to speak with a medical practitioner. For some, these services may make the difference between getting the help they need and not receiving care at all.
How Healthcare Access Differs Nationwide
The Commonwealth Fund’s most recent Scorecard on State Health System Performance uses a 58-point scale to rank each state in numerous categories, including health care access. Here’s a breakdown of the states where access is best—and where it’s worst:
States with the Best Access to Healthcare
- Massachusetts
- Hawaii
- Rhode Island
- New Hampshire
- District of Columbia
States with the Worst Access to Healthcare
- Mississippi
- Georgia
- Wyoming
- Oklahoma
- Texas
Trends & Takeaways
Several factors play an obvious role in determining these rankings—including insurance coverage. Texas, for example, had one of the highest rates of uninsured adults in the country as of 2021 (24.3%, compared to just 3.4% for Massachusetts).
But there are other important considerations as well. For example, the states with the best access to care are all relatively small and densely populated compared to the states where access is most difficult.
Texas and Massachusetts also have similar numbers of hospital beds per 1000 people (2.29 for Massachusetts and 2.2 for Texas). But Texas is approximately 33 times the size of Massachusetts, making it likely that residents will have to travel greater distances to access care in person.
Nationwide Challenges for Accessing Healthcare
Although not all states face the same challenges when it comes to healthcare, several problems are common throughout the country. These include:
- Not enough primary care providers: These professionals play an essential role in coordinating care, screening for illnesses, managing treatments, and educating patients. The national workforce is shrinking, making it more difficult for patients to see these professionals in person.
- Not enough support for different languages: According to the Center for Immigration Studies, more than 67 million Americans speak a language other than English at home. Language barriers can impact the ability of patients to discuss concerns with their care providers and receive useful information.
- Stigma and bias: Inequality related to race, sex, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and other factors continues to make care more difficult for some Americans to access than for others.
Why More People Are Turning to Telehealth
Seeking care through an online medical clinic may provide a viable solution to these challenges. Patients who use services like Lemonaid Health can consult with US-based medical practitioners from the comforts of their own homes. This eliminates the need to travel long distances for medical advice, which can especially improve access to care in mainly rural regions.
But the potential benefits of online medical care can be seen nationwide—for patients and practitioners alike. These include:
- Fewer unnecessary emergency room visits and prolonged hospital stays, which frees up medical resources and allows practitioners to see a higher volume of patients.
- Higher patient satisfaction via improved convenience and care availability.
- The ability of patients to avoid infectious diseases by communicating remotely with practitioners.
Many online medical care providers also offer services in different languages, which can help equalize healthcare access for people of different cultural backgrounds. And since many of these services are newer, they may be less likely to distribute information from outdated sources that could include social biases—although research continues on how to ensure equal access to online healthcare for different demographics.
Why Online Medical Care Is Essential for the Future of Healthcare
Ultimately, online healthcare providers are a compelling option for many Americans—and the only realistic choice for some. What’s more, they offer a potential solution to challenges that come with an enormous public cost.
According to Deloitte, health inequities account for approximately $320 billion in healthcare spending every year—and the number could grow to $1 trillion annually by 2040. That would approximately triple the average amount of money a typical American spends on healthcare per year (from around $1000 to $3000).
These costs are staggering, but they’re also avoidable. For those who are struggling to see a healthcare provider in person, the option to consult one online could prevent an urgent or costly emergency in the future—and when implemented on a large enough scale, it could help prevent a widespread public health crisis for a nation already experiencing significant costs and barriers.
