When it comes to health insurance status in the U.S, minorities represent the largest uninsured group due to various factors such as unemployment status, lack of education, and poverty. The last recession has worsened the situation by increasing the number of uninsured across the country (KFF, 2012). Black communities of Champaign County in Illinois are not exempt from this alarming situation.
The purpose of this study is to compare the health insurance status of two different minority communities in the Champaign area. The research questions associated with this inquiry are twofold. The first question is: Is there a difference in health insurance status between Congolese and African Americans attending the same church in Urbana, Illinois? This question will examine the trends of health insurance status between these groups. The second question is: Are there barriers associated with the coverage of health insurance among these minority groups? A questionnaire was randomly distributed to participants after church services to ensure that they reported their health insurance status. A sample size of 109 people was obtained (55 Congolese with 30 males or 54.55% and 25 females or 45.5% participated in the study, 54 African Americans with 24 males or 44.4% and 30 females or 55.6% participated in the study).
The results of this study show that income variable is statistically significant to distinguish between having health insurance and not having health insurance for both African American and Congolese communities attending a local church in the Champaign area. For Congolese, the length of stay in the U.S. is statistically significant to distinguish between having health insurance and not having one. English proficiency, high premiums, and the lack of knowledge of health care system were identified as barriers to health care access among Congolese and African Americans
