Insured U.S. Women More Likely To Forgo Needed Care Than Men, According To Study

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Compliance
Article Date: 25 Apr 2007 - 14:00 PDT

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Insured U.S. women are more likely than men to forgo necessary health care, according to a report by the Commonwealth Fund, the Los Angeles Times reports. The report found that women were more likely not to fill prescriptions, to skip appointments with specialists, not to get tests or to choose not to seek treatment when ill. The study also found that women have more difficulty paying their medical bills. Past studies have shown that women typically pay more for health care than men because women need more routine examinations. Women also need examinations related to pregnancy. The Commonwealth Fund report says that such issues should play a role in the debate over national health care as employers begin implementing plans with higher deductibles and as policymakers seek flexible, less-expensive ways to cover uninsured U.S. residents. Judith Waxman, vice president of the National Women's Law Center and co-author of the report, said lawmakers and advocates "should ensure that any proposal provides comprehensive benefits and low cost-sharing" (Los Angeles Times, 4/23).

The report is available online. Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the report.

"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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