Florida TaxWatch has released the final installment in its five-part series on social determinants of health, focusing on economic stability. The series examines how factors such as age and economic background influence individual health, based on definitions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The commentary highlights the importance of accessible healthcare and quality education for improving long-term health outcomes. According to Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro, "Employment, income, socioeconomic status, food security, and housing stability play an important role in accessing quality health care. They are also some of the main reasons for inequalities in health care access, which can add many millions of dollars to Florida taxpayers."
Jeff Kottkamp, Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Florida TaxWatch, added that policies supporting employment, career counseling, affordable housing, nutritional food access, and employment-linked health insurance could reduce poverty and enhance public well-being.
Research cited in the report indicates that stable employment correlates with better health outcomes. Unemployed individuals reportedly experience higher rates of depression and stress-related illnesses compared to their employed counterparts. Employment benefits like paid sick leave have shown positive impacts on family well-being.
Socioeconomic status is linked to mortality rates; individuals with higher incomes tend to live longer than those below the federal poverty level. Additionally, food insecurity is associated with increased risks of chronic diseases like diabetes.
Children in food-insecure households face greater risks of poor health outcomes and developmental issues. Housing instability further exacerbates these challenges by limiting access to necessary healthcare services.
This latest commentary concludes a series that began with topics such as healthcare access in June 2024 and education quality in August 2024.
For more information about Florida TaxWatch's work over its 45-year history as a government watchdog group or to explore previous commentaries in this series, visit www.floridataxwatch.org.