Analysts Say Dems Should Aim Health Reform Messages At Women

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 20 Oct 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Some analysts and advocates say Democrats are missing an opportunity to gain support for health care reform legislation by not reaching out more to women voters, Politico reports. Under the health reform bills circulating in Congress, insurers would no longer be allowed to charge women higher premiums than men based on gender, they would be required to provide maternity coverage and they would be prohibited from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, like previous caesarean sections or history of domestic violence.

Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster on health care issues, said women are usually "the ones who are going to pay attention to health care" and represent the "swing vote on health care." She added that "women are the 'influentials,' meaning if women like the plan, then the men in their lives like the plan. So in that sense, it makes sense to target women." Kaiser Family Foundation President and CEO Drew Altman said, "In general, health reformers have missed the opportunity to define health reform as a bread-and-butter issue for women," adding, "It gets discussed in the Beltway, but it doesn't break through."

According to Politico, women traditionally have been more concerned about health care and more supportive of reform efforts. At the same time, women are less likely to be employed at places that provide health insurance or make enough money to purchase individual coverage. A National Women's Law Center report found that women in some states pay 50% more in premiums, while a "vast majority" of the plans surveyed did not offer maternity coverage or asked women to purchase supplemental coverage for maternity services. The report said that 12 states have laws banning or limiting the practice of charging higher premiums based on gender.

Recent polls show that women and men are about equal in their support for health reform, Politico reports. A September KFF survey found that 42% of both women and men thought they would be better off if health care reform passed. Women older than age 65 were less likely than younger women to support health reform.

So far, efforts to target women in the health reform debate have included addresses by first lady Michelle Obama, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and White House Office of Health Reform Director Nancy-Ann DeParle, as well as recent floor addresses by 11 female senators and several other senior female White House aides. However, President Obama "has targeted his message more broadly" and focused on how health reform would reduce health care costs, Politico reports. Although analysts say such arguments can appeal to women, Obama "has yet to do an event aimed solely at making the case to women," Politico reports. Richard Kirsch, campaign manager for Health Care for America Now, said "a lot more can be done to focus health care as a women's issue," adding, "Particularly for independent women, focusing on this more can really help lift reform with the public."

According to White House Office of Health Reform spokesperson Linda Douglass, more events targeting women are being planned as part of a "vigorous outreach program." NWLC plans to launch a campaign on Tuesday called "Being a Woman Is Not a Pre-Existing Condition," Politico reports.

According to Jim Kessler, vice president for policy at Third Way, public opinion on health care is stabilizing, and an intense campaign to gain the support of women will be more important after a bill is passed. He said women make up the base of the Democratic Party, which will need their support in the 2010 elections (Budoff Brown, Politico, 10/19).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

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