The health reform law will expand health insurance coverage to nearly all uninsured women and make health care more affordable for millions of women through premium subsidies and new rules—some already in place—that will protect them from high costs, according to a Commonwealth Fund issue brief.
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act comes at a time when women are struggling to afford the health insurance and health care they need—an estimated 27 million women ages 19 to 64 were uninsured for all or part of 2010. Using data from The Commonwealth Fund 2010 Biennial Health Insurance Survey, the brief also found that women are skipping needed health care, with about half (48%) reporting they did not see a doctor when they were sick, didn't fill a prescription, or skipped a test, treatment or follow-up visit because they couldn't afford it. This is up from 34 percent in 2001.
You can also view and download the survey charts or read a related blog by The Commonwealth Fund's Ruth Robertson and Sara Collins.
