Women spend more on health insurance, too. This is partly because their reproductive systems are more complex than men's. Even so, many of the two most commonly performed surgeries in the U.S. are unnecessary, according to Dr. Sidney Wolfe, author of Women's Health Alert. He estimates that one in four hysterectomies and half of cesarean sections could be avoided. Furthermore, most contraceptives are female-based, and women often end up bearing the brunt of the financial burden for birth control.
Women also buy two-thirds of prescribed tranquilizers and sedatives.
Doctors say that women are more likely than men to request mood-altering drugs. Two exceptions to the rule that women pay more are in automotive and life insurance. Young men traditionally pay more for car insurance because their driving records are, on average, worse than women's. Men also pay the price for their shorter life expectancy. For those who wait until age 50 to buy life insurance, the price differences are even more striking.