It is rational to assume there is a gap in the life expectancy between those who are rich and those who are poor, but currently in the United States, the gap in life expectancy is simply disparaging. Although people with more money have easier access to healthcare and medical treatment, those in other developed countries have nowhere near the difference in lifespan between social classes that the U.S. does as a country. The question of what sets us apart is a provocative question. One could argue that the financial system of social security plays a part by being a positive feedback loop; those without much money can’t afford to see the payouts that those who live longer (i.e. the wealthier) can receive. Another thought is the problem of smoking and prescription drug habits that are much more commonplace in lower income communities. It could also be suggested that the stress levels are also a positive feedback loop that perpetuates the poverty of those with the lowest income as they have to work many more hours and go through much more financial and physical stress to make ends meet. It’s easy to see how these things can factor into the proportionally shorter lifespan of the poorer classes of America. The pressing problem is that the gap is widening despite major advances in technology and medicine and only those with money are able to reap the benefits of these societal advancements.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/13/health/disparity-in-life-spans-of-the-rich-and-the-poor-is-growing.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0