Why Health Equity Is Everyone’s Business—And How Corporate America Can Lead the Way
- Dr. Shakira J. Grant
- Apr 2
- 4 min read
Author: Dr. Shakira J. Grant
Date: April 2, 2025
We’re leaving $2.8 trillion on the table—and losing five million workers in the process.[1] That’s not the projection from a new stimulus package or tax reform. It’s the cost of doing nothing about America’s widening health equity gap.
Behind those numbers are real people: parents skipping care to cover rent, workers sidelined by preventable conditions, communities bearing the weight of systemic neglect. This isn’t just a health care problem—it’s a national emergency hiding in plain sight. And solving it isn’t charity. In an era of widening inequity, political division, and eroding public trust, advancing health equity may be the smartest investment corporate America can make.
What Exactly Is Health Equity?
Let’s be clear: health equity isn’t about giving everyone the same care. It’s about ensuring everyone has a fair and just opportunity to achieve their best health—regardless of race, income, gender, ZIP code, education level, language spoken, or job title.[2]
That means addressing the 80% of health outcomes driven not by doctors or hospitals, but by what are often called the social determinants of health—access to food, housing, transportation, education, and stable income. [3-5] It means seeing health not just as a health care system issue, but as a workforce, workplace, and community issue.
Why the Business Case Is Unmistakable
A recent analysis by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions found that improving health equity could add $2.8 trillion to U.S. GDP by 2040. Corporate profits alone could increase by $763 billion over that same period. [1]
The reason is simple: health inequities are expensive. They lead to more sick days, lower productivity, higher turnover, and rising health care costs. Mental health disparities alone cost the U.S. more than $477 billion annually—a figure projected to reach $14 trillion by 2040 if left unaddressed. [6]
Even the most well-intentioned benefits can quietly deepen the divide. Consider this: women pay nearly 20% more out-of-pocket for health care than men, are 30% more likely to skip care because they can’t afford it and are nearly twice as likely to be unprepared for a $500 medical bill. [7] These aren’t just data points—they reflect missed appointments, delayed treatments, and health problems that quietly worsen. And when care becomes unaffordable, it’s not just individuals who suffer. Businesses pay the price too—through lost productivity, reduced engagement, and talent that burns out or walks away.
Four Steps Every Business Can Take
This isn’t just a health care problem—and it doesn’t require an advanced degree in public health to make a difference. Here’s how organizations across industries can act:
1. Start with Your Workforce
Audit your health benefits and leave policies to identify gender, racial, or income-based gaps.
Invest in inclusive wellness programs, mental health support, and chronic disease management.
Use employee feedback to design programs that meet real needs—not assumptions.
2. Design With Equity in Mind
Whether you make apps, appliances, or AI based tools, equity-centered design matters.
Use diverse datasets to understand how your products or services impact different communities.
Address algorithmic biases in AI and tech tools that may reinforce existing inequities.
3. Engage Local Communities
Partner with local organizations tackling food insecurity, housing instability, transportation insecurity, and digital access.
Focus on “place-based” solutions tailored to rural and underserved areas.
Invest in infrastructure that improves health outside clinic walls—like walkable spaces or mobile health units.
4. Collaborate Across Sectors
Join multi-sector coalitions and ecosystem initiatives.
Align with public efforts such as state-level health equity zones.
Leverage your scale and influence to drive systemic change, not just isolated impact.
Why Now—and Why CROSS Global Research & Strategy Is Talking About It
At CROSS Global Research & Strategy, we believe health equity is the connective tissue between economic growth, social resilience, and inclusive innovation. Our work is rooted in evidence—but driven by the urgent need to turn data into action.
This isn’t just about better outcomes for some. It’s about a more competitive economy, a healthier workforce, and a more just society for everyone. Especially in a moment when health itself is being politicized, we can’t afford to delay or dilute this conversation.
A Call to Leadership
Health equity is no longer the exclusive domain of health care providers or public health officials. It’s a leadership issue—and that means every CEO, founder, policymaker, and citizen has a role to play.
If we’re serious about creating a more prosperous, resilient future, we must build a system where health doesn’t depend on luck, privilege, or geography.
Equity isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s the smartest thing businesses can do right now. The only question left is: who’s bold enough to lead?
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References
Hood et al., American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2016
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