A Vulnerable population entails a group of people who are affected by health inequities. In this case, they have equal opportunities as the non-vulnerable population, but they face hurdles that hinder them from accessing the opportunities. They are considered powerless or to have low social status; thus, it becomes challenging for them to have a healthy life because they lack the resources to do so. One factor that makes people vulnerable is poverty or lower social-economic status (Atake, 2018). Notably, this factor makes people have little or no means of income. The causes could result from issues like unemployment, education, and low income. People whose vulnerability results from poverty are unable to pay for health services or afford a healthy lifestyle. For instance, as Atake (2018) explained, most poor people cannot afford a balanced diet or a three-meal plan. They are also exposed to health risks due to living in an unhealthy environment in the slums. For most poor people, health is the least of concerns since they struggle to afford their basic needs.
Another factor that labels a population is diseases, particularly those associated with a stigma like HIV/AIDS. Such diseases drain the victims emotionally, physically, and mentally; thus, their (the victims) abilities to afford the resources to healthcare are challenged. For instance, most people living with HIV/AIDS fear going to seek medical services or work because they fear being stigmatized and discriminated against. The diseases are also costly and sometimes the affected population may not afford the services.
Significantly, the best-recommended intervention for providing affordable care to vulnerable populations is adopting the single-payer plan. In this plan, the government, funded by taxes, takes the responsibility of paying coverage to its citizens (Weisbart, 2012). The advantage of this plan is that everyone gets comprehensive coverage, eliminating the health inequities the vulnerable population face (Weisbart, 2012). It reduces health costs, allowing the affected groups to access and live healthy.
References
Atake, E. (2018). Health shocks in Sub-Saharan Africa: are the poor and uninsured households more vulnerable? Health Economics Review, 8(26). https://healtheconomicsreview.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13561-018-0210-x
Weisbart, E. (2012). A single-payer system would reduce U.S. healthcare costs. AMA Journal of Ethics, 14(11). 897-903. https://journalofethics.ama.assn.org/article/single-payer-system-would-reduce-us-health-care-costs/2012-11
