As ob-gyns, our reasons for supporting universal health coverage are simple. Too many pregnant women in the US are uninsured and not getting prenatal care, putting their babies and their own health at risk. Too many other uninsured women are going without the basic services that could save their lives. In 1997, about 465,000 pregnant women in America were uninsured.
Coverage can also vary widely by race.
One in three pregnant Hispanic women have no health coverage. The link between a lack of health insurance or prenatal care and poor infant health has been well documented. America, with its high percentage of uninsured people, also has one of the highest rates of infant mortality in the developed world. In this period of unprecedented economic growth, such a scenario is appalling. Women s lack of health insurance affects more than the delivery room.