The World Health Organization defines health inequity as a systemic difference in the health status or distribution of health resources across different populations. In the United States, health inequities put Black women at a higher risk of poorer health outcomes compared to White women.
Several social drivers of health can contribute to disparate health outcomes for Black women, including increased exposure to environmental, social, and physical stress, as well as:
- Racial bias and discrimination within the medical system.
- Lower-paying jobs that may result in being uninsured or underinsured.
- Reduced access to preventive care and medical services.
- Poor-quality care.
Leading insurers like Anthem often have sizable networks of diverse care providers and specialists. This helps close disparity gaps by providing personalized and comprehensive support that can improve health outcomes, lower costs, and help retain and recruit high-quality employees.
Closing The Gap In Maternal Health Disparities
If we look specifically at maternal health, Black women are three to four times more likely than White women to die from often preventable or treatable pregnancy-related complications, according to the National Partnership for Women & Families.
Anthem is striving to improve maternal health by developing programs that deliver a transformative impact, meaningful connections, and collaborative expertise to women and their families. This support is a key benefit that employees expect, and it’s needed to control rising healthcare costs. Employees who are starting families or have young children face a range of challenges that can impact their job performance, including returning to work.
Programs like Anthem's Building Healthy Families are available to offer your employees tracking tools, resources, and interventions that deliver improved outcomes for expectant women. Building Healthy Families is highly customizable and can be tailored to support low-, moderate-, and high-risk women, providing greater health equity. The program offers:
- Digital tools and resources: Using the SydneySM Health app, digital connections can make care accessible anytime, anywhere. Employees have 24/7 access to resources like behavioral health screenings, health-risk monitoring, and case escalation.
- Personalized care and information: A clinical program is available to identify at-risk employees who may require specialty benefits, providing intervention at an early stage. In addition, an app-based library provides reliable information for every stage of family planning, pregnancy, and parenting a young child — delivering valuable resources directly to your employees.
- Expert monitoring: Family Care Coaches use their medical expertise to monitor and assess an expectant woman's pregnancy risk for case escalation, as well as support personalized care plans and goals. In addition, Anthem’s proprietary smart technology leverages integrated data to actively monitor and guide employees to the resources they need.
Improving Breast Cancer Screening And Outcomes
Breast cancer screenings are another area with decreased health equity between White and Black women. The American Cancer Society (ACS) notes that although Black women are less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, they are 40% more likely to die from the disease than White women.
Outreach is a key component for reducing this disparity. Insurers like Anthem are raising awareness about the importance of breast cancer screenings in many Black communities, through partnerships with the American Cancer Society in addition to providing patient resources for care providers.
Educational institutions, like The Ohio State University, are also spreading the word about mammograms on a community level. These initiatives bring local health advocates together with Black women and their female relatives to discuss the importance of routine health screenings.
It's important for Black women facing a cancer diagnosis to be aware of programs in place to support them, both physically and emotionally. One example is Anthem's Cancer Care Navigators, who help those who are at a higher risk for complications from their health condition. These advocates work with an employee’s doctor to ensure they receive the care they need.
When we consider the significant impact of programs such as these, it becomes clear that insurers and employers have the power to drastically reduce gaps in care and improve the health of Black women and their families. This can mean improved health outcomes for your employees, in addition to reduced costs of care for both your workforce and your organization.
Sydney Health is offered through an arrangement with Carelon Digital Platforms, a separate company offering mobile application services on behalf of your health plan.