DOES THE UNITED STATES HEALTHCARE SYSTEM PROVIDES ADAQUATE HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS LIVING WITH HIV?

Introduction

To understand the healthcare policies followed in US it is mandatory to understand where in constitution healthcare lies, and how much importance has been given to it. According to the Article 25(1) of United States constitution "Everyone has the right to ... food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services." Whereas; constitution of United States acknowledged the housing needs of the nation which have been reflected in Housing Act 1949, which stipulates the "realization as soon as feasible of the goal of a decent home ... for every American family." (Freeman, Pp. 709-712)

These acts clarify that according to the constitution, the responsibility of providing healthcare facilities and homes to the citizens had been taken by the state. In contrast with these acts majority of homeless adults don't qualify for Medicaid and also not eligible for Medicare in most of the states. This has raised the concern that if medical treatment would not be covered through healthcare system, than chances are there that mortality rate of homeless people with chronic diseases like Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus (AIDs) would rise. In the homeless population, HIV/AIDS is even more prevalent. (Macdonald et al, Pp. 388-395)

  About 3.4% of homeless people were HIV-positive in 2006, compared to 0.4% of adults and adolescents in the general population (National Coalition for Homeless [NCH], Pp. 1-4). By the end of 2006, only in United States more than 1 million people were anticipated to have HIV/AIDS (National Coalition for Homeless [NCH], Pp. 1-4). Nearly half million among these people had progressed to AIDs, including 889 children under the age of thirteen at the end of 2007.  In the same year, approximately 14,000 people died because of AIDS-related diseases. 

Homelessness and HIV/AIDs in United States (relation and current situation)

Approximately 3.5 million people in US are homeless. (National Coalition for Homeless [NCH], Pp. 1-4) It has been found in a survey that more than 69% of homeless adults were at this risk of having HIV/AIDs because injection of drugs, unprotected sex, or sex with partners who uses drugs through injections. Actually homelessness and HIV/AIDS are intricately connected. People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), are often found it difficult to continue their medications as the cost for healthcare of HIV/AIDs is too high. In addition to that PLWHA have been caught by the fear of losing job due to regular absence related to health issues or discrimination. Consequently, under this circumstance 50% PLWHA in US are at the risk of becoming homeless. (National Coalition for Homeless [NCH], Pp. 1-4)Furthermore; this increases the jeopardy of contracting HIV. An excessively large number of people without home would undergo from substance abuse disorders. Mostly homeless people inject drugs intravenously, and might reuse or share the needles. Because of such practices 13% of HIV/AIDs cases have been diagnosed in United States. On the other hand because of heterosexual and male to male contacts 33% and 50% additional cases have ...