Tammy Baldwin: “it is estimated that 19 percent of women in the United States lack health insurance coverage. Women and their children…”

“it is estimated that 19 percent of women in the United States lack health insurance coverage. Women and their children are disproportionately represented among the Nation's uninsured population, primarily due to the number of women in service jobs and retail jobs which have low rates of employer-provided insurance and lower wages. Many working women have part-time jobs where health benefits are not offered by the employer or cannot afford the premiums to purchase the insurance. Women who are insured through their spouse's employment are often more susceptible to disruptions in health care coverage. Divorce, death of a spouse, change in job status of a spouse or a change in the dependent coverage through an employer could result in a woman and her children losing health insurance. We also know that women are living longer, yet the quality of their lives is not always better. Women are more likely to be uninsured than men, and this lack of health insurance is a public health risk. Studies show that people without health insurance are less likely to receive care and more likely to delay seeking care for acute medical problems. This ultimately adds to the cost because in many cases their medical conditions become more serious producing adverse outcomes that will need extensive follow-up care. Uninsured individuals are less likely to receive primary care or preventive services, which would keep medical conditions from becoming worse.”