There are many issues that plague the American healthcare system. One could spend hours analyzing every way in which the system is failing us, and there would still be issues that would go unnoticed. However, the biggest issue in our healthcare system today is that most low-income families are not receiving good medical care due to the rising cost of healthcare, limited access to services, and unaffordable co-pays.

There is no way to argue against the fact that healthcare is getting more expensive. From 1992 to 2008, healthcare-related costs have risen over 100 percent. Health Care costs are also using a larger portion of family income than they were 15 years ago, on average almost 15 percent more of the family income in 2016 than in 2001, leaving families with less money in the budget for other necessary costs such as food, utilities, and transportation costs. For families who already live on a low-income level, these rising costs are another shove backwards in the fight for fair medical care. Low-income families have a budget that is stretched as thin as it can be, and as a result they usually put healthcare on the back burner so they can focus on costs that they see as more vital, such as ensuring that their children have enough to eat and that their electricity and heat remain on.

Low-income families often struggle to access medical services because they usually cannot afford to travel to see a physician. Both gas prices and public transportation fees are rising, and in Toronto in 2010, paying for gas was less expensive than paying for public transit. However, even if gas is less expensive, that does nothing to help low income families who often cannot afford car payments or maintenance fees, and public transportation is usually only available in larger cities and suburbs, which are more expensive areas to live. For low-income families living outside of the suburbs, this leaves few options. One option is to look for healthcare within walking distance, but again, unless you live in a major city, this is a difficult task. The only other option is to pay to travel, which is a major burden on families with low income levels. In a survey in rural Oregon, many low-income parents reported that they themselves do not seek medical care because they cannot afford to travel to a physician for both themselves and their children.

Even for low-income families who have health insurance, co-payments are an unavoidable fee that can destroy their budget. A copay can get extremely expensive very quickly, as seen recently with the rising cost of Epi Pens, the epinephrine auto-injection devices that save the lives of people with severe allergies every day. Over the past twelve years, the cost of an Epi Pen has risen 450 percent. In 2004, the average co-payment for an Epi Pen was $50. With the most recent price increase, co-payments are over $300, while it is estimated that it only costs Mylan between $20-$30 to produce each Epi Pen. For low-income families, co-payments like these can prevent them from filling prescriptions, or even seeking medical care in the first place, because hospitals and physicians also charge copays. This causes a vicious cycle where their condition gets worse because it isn’t being treated, and it ultimately becomes more expensive when the condition has worsened to a point that it can no longer be ignored and the treatment is more involved.

You may be thinking, why should I care if this issue doesn’t affect my family? If I can afford to access good healthcare, why should I be concerned about the people who can’t? And that attitude is a major part of the problem. The attitude that many people have adopted around low-income families is another roadblock in their struggle to obtain adequate medical care. If you felt that people were judging you for not being able to afford your co-pay at the pharmacy, would you keep going to that pharmacy? Of course you wouldn’t. Instead of passing judgement when you see someone struggling to afford their medical care, have some sympathy. Think about how easily you could be in the same position. Wouldn’t you want someone to offer to help you pay for something, or to let you know of a less expensive alternative? If we all helped each other and spoke up about these injustices, our communities would be so much better off. All it takes is one person to stand up and say that something isn’t right and a movement can begin. Why can’t you be that person?