Women on the average earn less than men and make up a larger portion of the population holding jobs that usually do not have health insurance. Many women rely on their spouses for health insurance and risk being dropped if they are divorced or widowed. Women bear the major responsibilities for the health needs of uninsured children, including women of the next generation. Women live longer and have more chronic illnesses and conditions, needing access to specialists and lifelong treatments, which often cost more. In terms of preventive services, many women are underserved, including women over age 50, persons with low incomes, members of racial and ethnic minority groups, residents in rural areas, and undereducated women.
Women also are likely to be underinsured as well as underserved.
A woman's own physical condition also can be a deterrent. Some women are not assertive in seeking health care, waiting for their physician to recommend services, such as mammography. Thus, providers have an increased responsibility for patient education about preventive screening services that can reduce morbidity and mortality. Lack of reminders about needed care is cited often. The Colorado Department of Health uses a statewide computerized system to track the screening status of 150,000 women for their lifetimes and issues reminders to mammography providers.