The Affordable Care Act (ACA), colloquially known as Obamacare, is a law introduced by President Barack Obama in 2010, which was meant to reform the health insurance system in the U.S. by providing affordable insurance for a larger portion of the population than previously. In The Death Gap, Ansell discusses ACA as a significant, yet incomplete, step towards reducing health disparities in the US. Ansell acknowledges that the ACA expanded access to healthcare for millions, particularly among low-income and minority populations. However, he also critiques the ACA for not fully tackling the deeper, systemic issues of economic and racial inequities that continue to drive significant health disparities.

In The Death Gap, “biological weathering” describes the cumulative physical toll that chronic stress and adverse social conditions take on the bodies of marginalized individuals. Ansell explores how persistent exposure to racism, poverty, and discrimination can lead to accelerated aging and a higher incidence of chronic diseases among these populations.

Cabrini-Green Homes were part of a public housing project instituted during the middle of the 20th century in Chicago. The complex housed up to 15,000 people. By 2011, all these structures were demolished. The complex was known for the poverty of its residents.