Socioeconomic inequalities in health. No easy solution.
OBJECTIVE
Socioeconomic status (SES) is strongly associated with risk of disease and mortality. Universal health insurance is being debated as one remedy for such health inequalities. This article considers mechanisms through which SES affects health and argues that a broader and more comprehensive approach is needed.


METHODS
Published articles surveyed using MEDLINE and review articles and bibliographies.


RESULTS
Research is reviewed on the association of SES with health outcomes in different countries, including those with universal health coverage. Socioeconomic status relates to health at all levels of the SES hierarchy, and access to care accounts for little of this association. Other mechanisms are suggested and implications for policy and clinical practice are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
Health insurance coverage alone is not likely to reduce significantly SES differences in health. Attention should be paid both in policy decisions and in clinical practice to other SES-related factors that may influence patterns of health and disease.
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco.
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Adler
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Boyce
M A
MA
Chesney
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Folkman
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Syme
D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D038622:Internationality; D016239:MEDLINE; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States