As much as Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate progress, it also offers the opportunity to reflect on the challenges that remain. Unfortunately, those challenges are especially stark when it comes to healthcare.
Women have historically been overlooked in medical research, clinical care, and health policy, and new data from KFF shows that significant gaps in access and coverage persist. These disparities affect women across all life stages but are particularly concerning for those in rural communities, in communities of color, and those who are approaching mid-life.
Preparing and caring for menopause
One of the most glaring gaps is in menopause care. Despite the profound impact menopause has on a woman’s health, fewer than half of women ages 50 to 64 report that a healthcare provider has spoken to them about what to expect.
Menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog, joint pain, and mood changes, can disrupt daily life, yet many women navigate this transition with little medical support. Beyond the immediate symptoms, menopause also increases the risk for osteoporosis, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. The fact that so many women are left without guidance speaks to a broader issue: women’s health concerns, particularly those related to aging, are often dismissed or deprioritized.
Given that women experiencing perimenopause and menopause make up a significant portion of the workforce, expectations are growing that their health plan benefits will provide them with the care and tools they need to support their healthcare journey. At Premera, we’re working to build partnerships and help employers customize health plans that cover women’s healthcare needs from family planning to menopause. While the details of plans can vary, members who are interested in understanding coverage and resources are available to them should call the customer service number on the back of their Premera health plan ID card to learn more.
Accessing preventive care
Preventive care is another area where disparities between men and women are evident. While 62 percent of women report having a Pap smear in the past two years to screen for cervical cancer, access to preventive care is uneven. Women in rural areas can face significant barriers, with research showing they are less likely to receive routine preventive care because of provider shortages, longer travel distances, and a lack of healthcare facilities.
Routine screenings for cervical cancer, breast cancer, and other conditions are critical for early detection and better health outcomes, yet women who face economic, geographic, and cultural barriers may struggle to access them. When screenings aren’t prioritized due to cost, lack of transportation, or clinic shortages, preventable conditions can go undetected until they become serious and often more difficult to treat.
Health disparities show up in many ways
Perhaps most concerning, nearly a quarter of mid-life women, Black and Hispanic women, and those in rural areas describe their health as fair or poor. This is significantly higher than younger women, those living in urban areas, and white women. These disparities don’t happen in isolation but reflect a healthcare system that often fails to account for the realities many women face: the demands of caregiving, financial constraints, lack of culturally competent providers, and, in some cases, outright medical bias.
Research has shown that women’s pain is more likely to be dismissed, their symptoms are less likely to be taken seriously, and their conditions are more likely to be misdiagnosed. The consequences of these systemic failures are measurable and harmful.
Taking action to make change
At Premera, we recognize the urgent need to close the gaps in women’s healthcare. That’s why we’re putting in the work to expand access to preventive screenings, improve education around menopause and mid-life health for our members, and support programs that address disparities in care for all patients.
But the systemic change that is needed here requires more than the effort of a single health plan. Building a better healthcare system demands collective action from providers, health plans, policymakers, and communities to ensure that every woman receives the care she needs to thrive.
We also need to normalize conversations about women’s health, especially in mid-life and beyond. Menopause should not be a taboo topic. Preventive screenings should not be difficult to access. Chronic pain and health concerns should not be dismissed or minimized. Women’s health must be prioritized at every level and stage of life, and to do that, we must first be willing to talk about it.
As we honor Women’s History Month, we invite others to join us in moving beyond celebration and into action. Ensuring that all women receive the care they need isn’t just about closing care gaps; it’s about dignity, respect, and the right to a healthier future.
