Understanding Health Care Access for Under- and Uninsured North Carolina (2016)

Undergraduates: Mia Lei & Katherine Wiley, Mia Lei Mia Lei

Faculty Advisor: James Leloudis
Department: Psychology & Neuroscience

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Our oral history project aimed to identify community voices with diverse perspectives on how living in conditions of poverty affects access to health care. As North Carolina¿¿¿s recent failure to expand Medicaid leaves financially marginalized populations uninsured and underinsured, some people need ¿¿¿charity care¿¿¿ from powerful and potentially patriarchal institutions. Current health policy contributes to the stigma of social welfare systems, creating barriers to optimal population health. Unlike traditional history research, in which the only voices heard are those in power, an oral history approach allows for those affected by power to become recognized as part of history. As access to healthcare and coverage greatly ranges in rural and urban populations, we also compared perspectives from Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill (urban) and Robeson County (rural). We ultimately completed over twelve interviews of patients, providers, activists, and policymakers to develop an integrated perspective on health access.