There continue to be racial and ethnic disparities in the United States, and these issues must be addressed as the racial/ethnic population rate in the country continues to increase. According to the 2001 US Census, “racial/ethnic minorities are growing at such a rapid rate that by 2050, more than 50 percent of the population will belong to a minority group” (Weech-Maldonado, Al-Amin, Nishimi, Salam , 2011). Race and ethnicity should not determine the levels of health care people receive. Some breeds have genetic predispositions for certain diseases and this fact cannot be changed. However, racial differences in things like treatment, access to health care, and availability of medications should not be as large as they are. One of the most important disparities that exist between racial/ethnic groups is access to care, specifically how access to care is limited due to treatment not being tailored to the needs of diverse minorities. A key factor influencing access to care is economic inequality. Many racial/ethnic groups are considered to be of low socioeconomic status in the United States. When you have to worry about food and shelter, health is not considered a priority. Lack of health insurance is a huge problem that many people face. Income inequality means less money can be spent on doctor visits and medications. Research conducted by Shi, LeBrun, Zhu, and Tsai (2011) shows that while some minorities ordered fewer screening tests than others, uninsured people continued to be disadvantaged for cervical, breast, and breast cancer screening. colorectal. In the United States, one in three African American children and one in four Latino children live in poverty, twice the… middle of paper… age: Why racial and ethnic disparities persist . (Policy brief 16). Retrieved from http://www.npc.umich.edu/publications/policy_briefs/brief16/PolicyBrief16.pdfRichards, C., Kerker, B., Thorpe, L., Olson, C., Krauskopf, M., Silver, L ., . . . Winawer, S. (2011). Increasing screening colonoscopy rates and reducing racial disparities in New York's citywide countryside: An urban model. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 106(11), 1880-6.Shi, L., Lebrun, L., Zhu, J., & Tsai, J. (2011).Cancer screening among racial/ethnic and insurance groups in United States: A Comparison of Disparities in 2000 and 2008. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 22(3), 945-61. Weech-Maldonado, R., Al-Amin, M., Nishimi, R., & Salam, F. (2011). Improve the cultural competence of healthcare organizations. Advances in health care management, (10), 43-67.