Women face significant challenges in accessing affordable and high-quality health care. Despite consuming more health care than men – and being the primary health care decision-makers for their families – women often encounter barriers to care that impact their health, productivity and overall well-being.
It is important to understand the critical issues surrounding women's health coverage in order to identify and implement effective solutions to address these disparities.
Key Highlights:
Challenges in Health Coverage: Women frequently pay more for health care and receive lower-quality services compared to men, even with employer-sponsored insurance plans. Notably, 37% of women with employer-sponsored coverage report difficulty in meeting deductibles, and 36% said their plan did not cover care they thought was covered or paid less for care than expected. When care is unaffordable, women may skip or delay care, leading to worse health outcomes.
Disparities in Health Care Quality: Women have distinct health needs including those related to reproductive, maternal, and age-related conditions, yet they often struggle with affordability and coverage gaps and health care systems that are not set up to provide high-quality care that is responsive to women’s needs. Only one-quarter of women in the U.S. rate the quality of their care as excellent or very good. And nearly 40% of women report having negative interactions with a health care provider.
Economic Impact: Poor health outcomes for women result in significant economic costs, with potential global economic benefits of $1 trillion annually by 2040 if the health gap is addressed. McKinsey estimates that the women's health gap equates to 75 million years of life lost due to poor health or early death per year.
Broadening Women’s Health: A comprehensive understanding of women's health extends beyond maternity and reproductive care to include conditions like autoimmune diseases, mental health issues, and social drivers of health that impact women differently or disproportionately.
Data and Privacy: Enhanced data collection and robust privacy protections are essential for advancing women's health care and reducing inequities.
Opportunities for Employers: Employers can play a pivotal role in driving innovative care models that integrate primary and specialty care, improving health outcomes and reducing costs. By assessing and responding to employees' diverse health needs, employers can design benefits that improve access to care and support women in navigating the health care system.