As Hollywood stars, politicians and professional athletes revealed this week that they had been tested for coronavirus — despite not always having a fever or other tell-tale symptoms of COVID-19 — they faced backlash.
With celebrities like Idris Elba and more getting tested, it fueled a perception that the wealthy and famous have been able to jump to the head of the line while others have been turned away or met with long delays.
The concerns over preferential treatment underscored a fundamental truth about inequalities baked into the American health-care system — those with the financial means often have been able to receive a different level of service.