In this episode of Just Politics, the conversation explores the question: who can afford to get sick in the United States? Sister of Charity of the Incarnate Word Rosanne Popp and Nancy Kwan, both medical doctors providing care through CHRISTUS Health, join the discussion to examine how healthcare access is shaped not just by medicine, but by policy, poverty, immigration status, food insecurity, housing, and community support.
Together, we look at what lies beyond individual responsibility to highlight the structural realities that make care inaccessible for many people. Myriad factors are at play, including the downstream effects of Medicaid changes, Affordable Care Act coverage gaps, and the ways poverty, food insecurity, and fear of immigration enforcement can keep people from seeking care. Popp and Kwan highlight the life-saving importance of preventive care, dignity, and community-based clinics that offer more than treatment—they offer safety, continuity, and compassion.
