Coronavirus is already changing the way that everyone is living. People are being told to stay in the house and everyone is trying to adjust to this new reality. Jobs have either shut down or have people working from home. Everyone’s lives are changing, but certain people’s lives will be affected the most due to the coronavirus. It is not surprising to know that it will most likely be those of low income.

The economic equality gap has always been big in the U.S. and it is still growing. According to Katherine Schaeffer, “in 2018, households in the top fifth of earners brought in 52% of all U.S. income, more than the lower-four-fifths combined” (Schaeffer). That is more than half of the U.S. income and the wealth gap has “more than doubled from 1989 to 2016” (Schaeffer). That means that 20% of the U.S. population is making more than the other 80%.

This already growing gap is expected to get larger due to the coronavirus pandemic. The top fifth are less likely to be affected by the pandemic because “they live in Internet-ready homes that will accommodate telecommuting” (Skocpol). Low-income workers are already forced to live paycheck to paycheck. With the virus causing many people to be either laid off or fired, they are going to be living on less than a paycheck. People with low economic status are also more likely to have jobs that require them to go outside. Those still working in grocery stores and fast food restaurants during the coronavirus are lucky to still have a job. However, they are “in jobs that put them at greater danger of coming in contact with the coronavirus” (Skocpol).

Having to go outside to work is not the only thing putting people with low incomes at risk. Max Fisher and Emma Bubola stated that, “people at the lower ends of society are about 10 percent likelier to have a chronic health condition. (Fisher and Bubola)” With coronavirus being more deadly to people of “old age and [with] pre-existing health conditions” (Fisher and Bubola)—those of low income are in more danger of the virus.

Treatment is another thing to consider, because being hospitalized due to the virus is not cheap. Abigail Abrams claimed that “the average cost of Covid-19 treatment for someone with employer insurance . . . would be about $9,763. Someone whose treatment has complications may see bills about double that” (Abrams). Even with insurance the treatment is expensive and “most low-wage workers receive no health insurance” (Amadeo), meaning that their treatment cost more money. There is a chance that they can receive money from charity or aid. However, if they do not then they will be left with a bill that is more than they can afford.

People with low-incomes are already at a disadvantage, and this pandemic is making it worse. When this is all over, their lives will still have been negatively affected and they will be left with little to nothing. Making the already big economic gap in the U.S. even larger.

-Madison Smith-Collins

Works Cited:

Abrams, Abigail. “Total Cost of Her COVID-19 Treatment: $34,927.43.” Time, Time, 19 Mar. 2020, time.com/5806312/coronavirus-treatment-cost/.

Amadeo, Kimberly. “The True Cause of Income Inequality in America.” The Balance, 10 Apr. 2020, http://www.thebalance.com/income-inequality-in-america-3306190.

Fisher, Max, and Emma Bubola. “As Coronavirus Deepens Inequality, Inequality Worsens Its Spread.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 15 Mar. 2020, http://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/15/world/europe/coronavirus-inequality.html.

Schaeffer, Katherine. “6 Facts about Economic Inequality in the U.S.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 7 Feb. 2020, http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/02/07/6-facts-about-economic-inequality-in-the-u-s/.

Skocpol, Theda. “Coronavirus Will Change the World Permanently. Here’s How.” POLITICO, 19 Mar. 2020, http://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/03/19/coronavirus-effect-economy-life-society-analysis-covid-135579.