Millions of Women Could Benefit From Health Reform Law

As many as 30 million women could benefit from the health reform law over the next decade, according to an analysis of the Affordable Care Act by the Commonwealth Fund. This includes up to 15 million women without health insurance who could get subsidized coverage; 14.5 million insured women who will benefit from improved coverage or reduced premiums; and an estimated 100,000 uninsured women who could gain coverage under the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.

The study authors said that although women are as likely as men to be uninsured, their health care needs leave them more vulnerable to high health care costs and they are more likely to lose their health insurance. Insurance carriers consider women, especially those of child-bearing age, to be at a higher risk than men, according to the study. In addition, most policies sold on the individual market won't cover the cost of pregnancy, according to the study. Women also are more likely to delay their care and be more central in coordinating health care for their families.

Although this is good news for women across the nation, the question remains whether there will be enough physicians to provide care for them.

Physician shortage in the United States is documented through dozens of studies by organizations such as the Association of American Medical Colleges, in addition to several states.

But Karen Davis, Ph.D., Commonwealth Fund's president, said that there are provisions in the Affordable Care Act that could help alleviate the current physician shortage and encourage more physicians to accept Medicaid and Medicare patients.

For instance, there will be an increase in primary care fees that are paid by Medicare, and Medicaid reimbursement rates for physicians will come up to Medicare level in the next several years, she explained.

But, “the big improvement comes from increased funding for community health centers,” Davis said. She said that the Act's provisions will double the capacity of community health centers, which mostly provide care to low-income patients.

Some of the ACA provisions that benefit women will start as early as September of this year. Others, such as expansion of Medicaid eligibility and new state insurance exchange with premium and cost-sharing subsidies of up to 400% of federal poverty level, will go into effect after 2014.

The report, titled “Realizing Health Reform's Potential: Women and the Affordable Care Act of 2010” is the first in a series of analyses by the Commonwealth Fund, focusing on how health reform will affect various groups and populations.

As many as 30 million women could benefit from the health reform law over the next decade, according to an analysis of the Affordable Care Act by the Commonwealth Fund. This includes up to 15 million women without health insurance who could get subsidized coverage; 14.5 million insured women who will benefit from improved coverage or reduced premiums; and an estimated 100,000 uninsured women who could gain coverage under the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.

The study authors said that although women are as likely as men to be uninsured, their health care needs leave them more vulnerable to high health care costs and they are more likely to lose their health insurance. Insurance carriers consider women, especially those of child-bearing age, to be at a higher risk than men, according to the study. In addition, most policies sold on the individual market won't cover the cost of pregnancy, according to the study. Women also are more likely to delay their care and be more central in coordinating health care for their families.

Although this is good news for women across the nation, the question remains whether there will be enough physicians to provide care for them.

Physician shortage in the United States is documented through dozens of studies by organizations such as the Association of American Medical Colleges, in addition to several states.

But Karen Davis, Ph.D., Commonwealth Fund's president, said that there are provisions in the Affordable Care Act that could help alleviate the current physician shortage and encourage more physicians to accept Medicaid and Medicare patients.

For instance, there will be an increase in primary care fees that are paid by Medicare, and Medicaid reimbursement rates for physicians will come up to Medicare level in the next several years, she explained.

But, “the big improvement comes from increased funding for community health centers,” Davis said. She said that the Act's provisions will double the capacity of community health centers, which mostly provide care to low-income patients.

Some of the ACA provisions that benefit women will start as early as September of this year. Others, such as expansion of Medicaid eligibility and new state insurance exchange with premium and cost-sharing subsidies of up to 400% of federal poverty level, will go into effect after 2014.

The report, titled “Realizing Health Reform's Potential: Women and the Affordable Care Act of 2010” is the first in a series of analyses by the Commonwealth Fund, focusing on how health reform will affect various groups and populations.

As many as 30 million women could benefit from the health reform law over the next decade, according to an analysis of the Affordable Care Act by the Commonwealth Fund. This includes up to 15 million women without health insurance who could get subsidized coverage; 14.5 million insured women who will benefit from improved coverage or reduced premiums; and an estimated 100,000 uninsured women who could gain coverage under the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.

The study authors said that although women are as likely as men to be uninsured, their health care needs leave them more vulnerable to high health care costs and they are more likely to lose their health insurance. Insurance carriers consider women, especially those of child-bearing age, to be at a higher risk than men, according to the study. In addition, most policies sold on the individual market won't cover the cost of pregnancy, according to the study. Women also are more likely to delay their care and be more central in coordinating health care for their families.

Although this is good news for women across the nation, the question remains whether there will be enough physicians to provide care for them.

Physician shortage in the United States is documented through dozens of studies by organizations such as the Association of American Medical Colleges, in addition to several states.

But Karen Davis, Ph.D., Commonwealth Fund's president, said that there are provisions in the Affordable Care Act that could help alleviate the current physician shortage and encourage more physicians to accept Medicaid and Medicare patients.

For instance, there will be an increase in primary care fees that are paid by Medicare, and Medicaid reimbursement rates for physicians will come up to Medicare level in the next several years, she explained.

But, “the big improvement comes from increased funding for community health centers,” Davis said. She said that the Act's provisions will double the capacity of community health centers, which mostly provide care to low-income patients.

Some of the ACA provisions that benefit women will start as early as September of this year. Others, such as expansion of Medicaid eligibility and new state insurance exchange with premium and cost-sharing subsidies of up to 400% of federal poverty level, will go into effect after 2014.

The report, titled “Realizing Health Reform's Potential: Women and the Affordable Care Act of 2010” is the first in a series of analyses by the Commonwealth Fund, focusing on how health reform will affect various groups and populations.