A recent study shows that, though Americans’ ability and opportunity to find affordable health insurance is severely lacking, it is the country’s women who are one of the most affected groups. To find the lowest rates on health insurance use our form to compare up to 5 quotes.

Here are some startling facts about women’s health insurance in America:

FACT. More than 17 million women in America age 18 to 64 are uninsured, according to the study “Women at Risk: Why Many Women Are Forgoing Needed Health Care.”

FACT. 52 percent of adult women (18-64 years old) say they have problems obtaining health insurance due to the cost. On the flip side, only 39 percent of men had the same complain, according to the study.

FACT. Women are twice as likely as men to be insured as a dependent on their spouse’s plan—a precarious position. If they divorce or is widowed, she loses coverage.

FACT. Due to recent mass job cuts, women are more likely to lose their health insurance coverage because their spouse may have been laid off or she may have lost her job and therefore her employee-sponsored health insurance.

The economy is tanking and health insurance may cost more than you can afford, but that doesn’t mean women have no options when it comes to medical needs and services. Here are just a few healthcare options for women:

1. Government-sponsored safety net facilities. To find one of these facilities, contact your local or state health department or visit the Bureau of Primary Health Care.
   1. Community health centers
   2. Public hospitals
   3. School-based centers
   4. Public-housing primary car centers
   5. Migrant health centers
   6. Special needs facilities
   7. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC)
   8. Maternal and Child Health Services
   9. Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)
   10. National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP)

For women who do not qualify for these government-sponsored programs, there are still some options available.

2. Free clinics – for the uninsured and/or low-income women, free clinics are available to provide services that are otherwise unaffordable.
3. Prescription drug assistance – Women who do not qualify for Medicaid coverage and need prescription medication but can not afford to get it should seek prescription drug assistance. Consult your state’s health insurance department to find out whether or not your state provides prescription drug assistance.
4. Ryan White CARE Act – This act provides funds for health/medical services for women who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and who are underinsured, lack health insurance, or have limited income.
5. Cancer Care – This service is for women with cancer who have limited income and limited or no health insurance. Cancer Care provides free information and financial support for cancer patients and their families.
6. State Temporary Insurance – If a woman has a preexisting condition and therefore can not find health insurance, more than 30 states offer health insurance coverage through State High Risk Pools, a temporary health insurance assistance.

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