Barriers to Care Experienced by Women in the United States

1. Barriers to Care Experienced by
Women in the United States
Visualizing Health Policy Infographic
Kaiser Family Foundation and JAMA
June 2019

2. Women incur greater health care costs than men,
particularly during the reproductive years
$3,402
$4,717
$5,908
$9,489
$1,891
$2,518
$4,825
$7,850
19 to 34 years 35 to 44 years 45 to 54 years 55 to 64 years
Women Men
SOURCE: Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker. Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Average health spending per capita, by age and gender, 2015

3. Women are more likely to go without care because
of cost, despite decreases in uninsured rates
18%
11%
23%
14%
2013 2018
Share who are uninsured:
Women Men
NOTE: Among women and men ages 18-64.
SOURCES: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Insurance Coverage Estimates from National Health Interview Survey. Kaiser
Family Foundation, 2017 Kaiser Women’s Health Survey and 2017 Kaiser Men’s Health Survey.
20%
17%
15%
12%
Skipped recommended
medical test or treatment
Didn't fill Rx or cut/skipped
doses of medicine
Share reporting that due to costs, in
prior year they:
Women Men

4. Younger women are more likely to say they do not
have a regular clinician and did not obtain timely care
as a result
36%*
20%*
31%*
16%*17%*
10%
14%
11%*10%
6%
do not have a regular provider delayed care in prior 12 months because no
regular provider
18-25 26-34 35-44 45-54 55-64
NOTE: Among women ages 18-64. *Indicates a statistically significant difference from 55-64 years; p<.05.
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation, 2017 Kaiser Women’s Health Survey.
By age group, share of women reporting they:

5. Women who do not have a regular clinician are
less likely to receive certain preventive services
75%
69%
80%
56%
52%
43%
53% 55%
38%
45%
Mammogram Pap test Talked to clinician
about diet/
exercise/nutrition
Talked to clinician
about mental health
issues
Talked to clinician
about smoking
Has a regular clinician No regular clinician
NOTE: Among women ages 18-64. Mammogram and pap in prior 2 years. Clinician counseling in past 3 years.
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation, 2017 Kaiser Women’s Health Survey.
Share of women reporting that they recently had:

6. Women are more likely than men to have a pre-
existing health condition and express concern
about losing protections
24%
29%
All Men
All Women
Share with Declinable Pre-existing
Conditions Under Pre-ACA Practices,
2015
SOURCES: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of data from National Health Interview Survey and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System,
2015. KFF Health Tracking Poll, August 2018.
54%
65%
67%
85%
Lose coverage
Pay more for
health insurance
If there is no ban on pre-ex condition
exclusions, share in 2018 who are worried
they or family member will :
Women Men

7. Cost barriers to contraception have decreased for
insured women since the ACA’s contraceptive
coverage requirement took effect
Insurance
covered
the full
cost, 45%
Insurance
covered
part of
the cost,
48%
Other, 6%
2013
NOTES: Among privately insured women ages 18-44 who reported they used a prescription contraceptive in the past 12 months. Total may not
add to 100% due to missing data. Includes oral contraceptives, long-acting reversible contraceptives, injections, patch, ring, among others.
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation, 2013 and 2017 Kaiser Women’s Health Surveys.
Insurance
covered the
full cost, 75%
Insurance
covered
part of the
cost, 19%
Other, 7%
2017