Before the pandemic hit, chronic and infectious diseases accounted for seven out of every 10 male deaths in America; many of these could have been avoided through medical attention.

Policymakers who aim to increase health outcomes while simultaneously cutting costs must prioritize disease prevention as a top priority.

1. Expand access to health care

Multiple health care barriers impede individuals in accessing the care they require, including high costs, no insurance coverage, limited community resources and cultural issues.

Health systems can increase access by lowering costs and increasing affordability, as well as by offering more convenient treatment options; some systems even provide shuttle services and after-hours care services for those unable to visit during regular business hours.

Other solutions include making it easier to access jobs with solid benefits and reducing poverty and inequality. By adopting these policies, economic conditions will be established that promote families’ health and well-being while simultaneously decreasing racial disparities and helping communities prepare for ongoing health threats. Collectively pursuing these five priorities will have an enormously positive effect on America’s overall health – starting a journey toward better wellbeing.

2. Rethink our food system

Food insecurity contributes to obesity and numerous other health issues, while stress increases, which has been linked with heart disease and high blood pressure. By offering more affordable access to nutritious foods, this problem could be alleviated.

Rebuilding soil health like in California is essential to creating a resilient food system and must be prioritized to meet rising demand for healthy, eco-friendly foods while improving environmental wellbeing. Unfortunately, many conventional farming practices harm soil health.

Transformation of food systems to prioritize sustainability is both essential and challenging. Agri-food corporations continue to face resistance from local protest movements around the globe (Mencher 2013), necessitating slow shifts in political economies as well as reclamation of land by nation-states, social movements, and civil society organizations as important players in its transformation (Altieri 2021).

3. Rethink our transportation system

People and communities rely on accessible and affordable transportation systems for optimal health. People living in rural areas are forced to travel far to access medical care. Even those in urban areas may struggle with affording car or public transit costs. For optimal health outcomes, communities need safe places where residents can walk and bike safely with clean air quality, accessing healthy food options, jobs, services and less environmental impact due to reduced carbon emissions and impacts from climate change. Furthermore, more eco-friendly transport options should also be prioritized with reduced carbon emissions for reduced climate impact.

4. Rethink our housing system

Traditional health policies such as expanding access to health insurance or supporting scientific research cannot address the decline in health and disparate gaps among Americans; we require long-term investments that address economic wellbeing and healthy living as barriers.

While these devices provide some measure of relief from pain or distress, their intended function remains uncertain and must therefore be redefined through additional means. People need jobs that provide living wages that support family savings and assets; nutritious foods that are accessible and cost-effective; safe transport that allows people to be active outdoors; housing close to work and schools but away from factories emitting toxic pollutants; as well as neighborhoods free from concentrated poverty or signs of racism. Such neighborhoods are also safer and less prone to flooding and climate-related hazards; people of color experience greater barriers when seeking such opportunities and their health suffers accordingly. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Black and Latino households were more likely to live in overcrowded conditions that made it hard for them to maintain social distance from others, leading them to experience greater complications and mortality rates than their White counterparts.

5. Rethink our education system

Education is more than an economic investment – it has an enormously positive effect on health. Studies show that those with higher educational levels often live longer and enjoy greater financial security and overall better health compared to their counterparts with less education. Furthermore, societies with high rates of literacy experience lower crime levels and have greater civic participation.

Education systems need to move away from predetermined pathways toward success and instead empower both students and their families with the freedom of selecting their own learning paths – initiatives like these are already taking place.

Innovative educators are exploring methods of safely reopening schools for in-person learning while protecting them against future disruptions. By prioritizing student needs and drawing upon community resources, these educators aim to reinforce education as an integral societal endeavor that benefits individuals and societies alike.

6. Rethink our workplaces

Workplaces play a pivotal role in employee health and well-being. Over time, unhealthy environments can contribute to weight issues, smoking, sleep apnea and other chronic diseases that decrease worker productivity while increasing health care costs. Conversely, healthy workplaces can foster healthier lifestyles that reduce risks while increasing quality of life for workers. Companies investing in employee wellness can experience substantial returns through improved productivity and reduced workers compensation costs, such as investing in programs like workplace wellness teams or employee health challenges; providing health education materials or self-care resources may also prove valuable resources.

7. Rethink our legal system

The United States boasts one of the highest gross domestic products and boasts some of the world’s leading scientists and medical centers; yet its health outcomes rank last among developed nations. This disparity can be linked to policies rooted in systemic racism that lead to poorer outcomes among Black and Brown communities as well as white populations alike. Simply increasing health insurance coverage or profits cannot address this issue; what’s needed instead is an holistic approach to public health involving investing in community resilience measures, combatting climate change mitigation efforts and addressing social inequities can all help improve health while decreasing disparities across our borders1.1

Download our report to gain more insight into how these issues can be tackled.

8. Rethink our financial system

American health is in decline, with more people becoming sicker and dying earlier than in other rich nations. While traditional policies such as expanding access to care and investing in research will help improve national outcomes, they cannot address all underlying causes such as inequities caused by legacy racism. Furthermore, four out of ten American adults report having debt related to medical costs; with Black/Hispanic adults, parents, low-income adults, and women being disproportionately burdened by medical bill debt.

9. Rethink our culture

American culture is to blame for many of our nation’s health issues. Its hallmarks include narcissism, political correctness and therapeutic society – characteristics which have contributed to overmedication among Americans as well as creating a generation of unmotivated, under-functioning millennials.

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how quickly culture can change; billions of people quickly adopted face masks and other precautions to protect themselves from this virus. We can take this example and apply it across our society, to prevent long-term declines in health and extend life expectancies of all Americans.

For cultures to thrive, investment must be made in social determinants of health – those factors which have an impactful impact on individuals’ well-being and ability to thrive in their community. These include addressing economic inequities, combatting structural racism and discrimination and increasing access to healthy foods and housing.