Education, occupation, income

Someone already mentioned it, but I wholeheartedly agree that education contributes greatly to the health disparities between social classes. Granted, someone with a higher education doesn't necessarily translate their knowledge into everyday practice, but they are more likely to do so than someone who doesn't have that knowledge.

In general, I feel that populations with low SES have lower levels of health because they tend to live in disparaged environments. They have bad living conditions, which can include houses that are poorly ventilated, built with asbestos, etc...their neighborhoods don't necessarily provide access to healthy food choices, or they may not be safely monitored, making it dangerous to play outside, or exercise, or even go for a walk.

And why do they live in these kinds of environments? It may be because their income levels are too low for them to live anywhere else. Income can also be tied to education--the higher level of education you have, the more money a year you're likely to make. There's a big difference in salary between someone who is a high school graduate and someone who never finished. And usually the jobs that pay lower require more physical labor, which can be taxing and even dangerous.

In terms of what a health care system can do to help the disadvantaged, I think first we need to start out by building better neighborhoods and urban infrastructures. There should be guidelines and policies in place to ensure that everyone can live in an environment that is safe and provides easy access to a healthy lifestyle.