Women Most Hurt By Lack Of Universal Health Care - ACOG Supports Cover The Uninsured Week April 27-May 3, 2008

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 25 Apr 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Women of childbearing age in the US are disproportionately more likely to not have health insurance, resulting in serious consequences to their personal health and endangering their ability to manage the health of their families, according to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

"Over 17 million women in the US have no health insurance, and approximately 13% of pregnant women are uninsured," says ACOG President Kenneth L. Noller, MD, MS. "The sad and alarming reality is that the uninsured rate of 20.4% for women of childbearing age (age 15-44) is greater than for all Americans under age 65 (17.8%).

"The problem of uninsured Americans is not going away and will require the continued attention of the medical community and our elected officials," adds Dr. Noller. "Women's health must be a cornerstone of health care reform. As ob-gyns, we are committed to advocating for better insurance coverage on our patients' behalf."

ACOG, the nation's leading organization of physicians dedicated to providing health care to women, is actively working for reform of the US health care system with a focus on policies that advance women's health. Since 1971, the ob-gyn group has called for universal access to maternity care. In February, ACOG launched Health Care for Women, Health Care for All: A Reform Agenda that defines the essential principles for achieving universal health care that meets women's lifetime health needs.

ACOG joins nearly 200 national organizations in supporting Cover the Uninsured Week (April 27-May 3, 2008), the nation's largest nonpartisan campaign that calls attention to the need for reliable, affordable health coverage for each American.

Cover the Uninsured Week, spearheaded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, spotlights the plight of 47 million Americans who have no health insurance. The goal of the 2008 campaign is to enroll eligible uninsured families in public health programs. More than 8 out of 10 uninsured Americans are in working families, who gamble every day that they won't get sick or injured.

Uninsured women are less likely to receive important preventive health care and screening tests, such as clinical breast exams and tests for cervical cancer, than are insured women. They are also more likely to receive diagnoses at more advanced disease stages and tend to receive less medical treatment once diagnosed.

In addition to pregnancy and related reproductive health needs, women tend to live longer and, therefore, use more health care services throughout their lives. Since women also are known to be the major health decision-makers and caregivers for their family, their access to the health care system is essential.

"The question is no longer whether we need to reform our health care system, but how do we do it and how soon," says Dr. Noller. "As more patients, health care providers, businesses, insurers, and lawmakers demand change, now is the time to reach common ground on solutions and move beyond rhetoric to results."

ACOG is urging its members to participate in Cover the Uninsured Week activities that will take place throughout the country. For more information about Cover the Uninsured Week and scheduled events, go to http://www.covertheuninsured.org.

For more information about ACOG's Health Care for Women, Health Care for All: A Reform Agenda, go to http://www.acog.org/goto/healthcarereform

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is the national medical organization representing over 52,000 members who provide health care for women.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists