Sick and Tired

Sick and Tired

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  Sick and Tired The Compromised Health of Social Assistance Recipients and the Working Poor in Ontario Beth Wilson, CSPC-T Ernie Lightman, SANE Andrew Mitchell, SANE
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  Overview Focus onthe health and health care use of: Social assistance recipients (OW and ODSP) Working poor Non-poor Statistics Canada’s 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey - most recent, most comprehensive 24,464 adults in Ontario, 18-64 years Low Income Measure (LIM) to measure poverty Main source of household income Database does not distinguish between OW and ODSP recipients
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  Profile Social assistanceand working poor groups – disproportionately women, members of racialized groups, Aboriginal people and immigrants Working poor - 48% members of racialized groups; 53% immigrants
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  Profile continued Medianhousehold income Non-poor: $80,000 Working poor: $21,000 Social assistance: $13,000
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  Major results –health Social assistance recipients have greatest burden of poor health and chronic conditions Significantly higher rates on 38 of 39 health measures compared to the non-poor and 37 of 39 health measures compared to the working poor Working poor have higher rates of poor health compared to the non-poor on many measures Non-poor have higher rates of poor health compared to the working poor on some measures – healthy immigrant effect
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  Multivariate models Analysesthat take into account other factors associated with health: Age, gender, racialized status, Aboriginal identity, educational attainment, disability status, physical activity level, smoking and employment status Even after taking into account all of these factors, income and social assistance receipt continue to be powerful predictors of poor health
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  Food insecure householdsSocial assistance: 49.3% Working poor: 16.5% Non-poor: 3.2%
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  Major results –health care use Social assistance recipients and the working poor are less likely to have a regular medical doctor compared to the non-poor Social assistance recipients have more consultations with medical practitioners of all kinds compared to other two groups Working poor have more consultations with general practitioners but less with specialists compared to non-poor
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  Preventative health careWorking poor less likely to have ever had eye exam or visit to dentist or to have a recent visit to either Working poor and social assistance groups have much lower rates for women’s preventative health
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  Health insurance Workingpoor much lower rates for health insurance – prescription meds, dental, vision – compared to other groups
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  Unmet health careneeds 26.3% social assistance recipients 15% working poor 12.5% non-poor Cost is reported as a reason for 20-22% from poor groups with unmet health care needs compared to 9% non-poor Transportation another factor for poor groups
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  Recommendations Improving theprovincial poverty reduction strategy Expand provincial target to reduce poverty by 25% in 5 years for ALL Ontarians Independent panel to set OW and ODSP rates to reflect cost of living, evidence-based process Live up to UN commitment to human right to food Review ODSP access/barriers in social assistance review Update employment standards Set minimum wage above the poverty line
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  Recommendations continued TakingAction on the Federal Level Introduce national poverty reduction plan with concrete targets and timelines Restore Employment Insurance as a universal program for unemployed workers
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  Recommendations continued ImprovingHealth Care Access, Promoting Health Equity Areas for action: CHC funding; dental, vision, drug coverage; Ontario Trillium Drug Plan; language interpreter services, health ambassadors
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  Many thanks Co-authors:Ernie Lightman, Andrew Mitchell Research partner: Michael Shapcott, Wellesley Institute CSPC-T Communications Officer: Christopher Wulff Research assistance: Raluca Fletcher, Esther Guttman, Zak Tucker-Abrahamson Research advisory committee members Funders: Wellesley Institute, SSHRC, City of Toronto, United Way Toronto