Title: |
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Women's Health Care Utilization and Expenditures |
Description: |
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This study examines women's use of and expenditures for medical care in the United States. In 2000, 91% of women aged 18 years and older used any health care services. Overall 82% of adult women reported an ambulatory care visit, while 11% had an inpatient hospital stay. Mean expense per person with expense was $3219 for that year. We examined use and expenditures by sociodemographic characteristics. The most notable findings indicate that women with private insurance, and those on Medicaid, are more likely to use health services than uninsured women. White women, compared to Black and Hispanic women, are more likely to have an ambulatory care visit, buy prescription drugs, and use preventive health care services. In addition, white and Hispanic women pay a higher proportion of medical care expenses out-of-pocket than do Black women. Finally, nearly 30% of older women in fair or poor health spent 10% or more of their income out-of-pocket on medical care. In order to reduce disparities and improve the quality of health care for all women, it is important for policy makers to understand the factors that influence their utilization and expenditures for medical care. |
Author(s): |
|
Amy K. Taylor and Sharon Larson and Rosaly Correa-de-Araujo |
Agency: |
|
Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality |
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