Institutional racism: Discriminatory treatment, unfair policies and practices, inequitable opportunities and impacts within organizations and institutions, all based on race, that routinely produce racially inequitable outcomes for people of color and advantages for White people. Individuals within institutions take on the power of the institution when they reinforce racial inequities. 

The negative and compounding impacts of socioeconomic status and institutional racism lead to shorter life spans and higher likelihood of adverse health outcomes for people living in poverty and people of color. Importantly, a study published in the journal Nature illustrates that this is not a result of individual choices, but rather institutional racism. It found that millions of Black people have been affected by racial bias in health-care algorithms used by many U.S. hospitals, resulting in Black people being less likely than white people who were equally sick being referred to programs.

Because health care costs typically make up a large portion of a household’s annual budget. there is additional stress on families with low to moderate incomes (ALICE). And having health care does not guarantee that it is affordable or accessible.