Women are the nation's primary health care consumers and the majority of managed care enrollees.
As Medicare and Medicaid recipients move into managed care plans, the health of even more women will depend on the quality of managed care. At a time when insurers are declaring war on the very principle of consumer rights, women and families need enforceable, national protections more than ever. Not only do women use more health services and spend more health care dollars, they also make most health decisions for their families, from picking an insurance plan to deciding when to take a child to the doctor. Right now, consumer protections vary widely from state to state and even between employers. That is simply not acceptable.