As usual, women get screwed

As a women's studies minor in school, I did a lot of reading about how women are forced to succeed within a society built by men. A lot this concept has to do with the workforce: in order to get ahead, you have to put in a lot of hours and spend a lot of years, etc., which forces women to either choose not to have a family, or to not get ahead.

Of course, I am always really happy to read an article about how some companies have implemented a policy (such as telecommuting, flexible hours, daycare onsite, etc.) that provide all employees (not just women -- the policies also benefit men) greater flexibility that allows them to avoid being forced to choose between having a family and succeeding in a career.

So it really bugs me to see shit like the (slow) rise in popularity of high-deductible health plans . According to an article on Thursday in Dow Jones (I can't link), several studies show that women get fucked in out-of-pocket costs under HDHPs. It's not only bad enough women have to be pregnant, most likely be the primary caregiver once the kid is born, while working, now women also might have to pay more to be pregnant.

HDHPs are not women-friendly health plans. They are, as usual, a way for businesses to save money while leaving women behind.

The Commonwealth Fund in April released an issue brief written by Judy Waxman, vice president for health at the National Women's Law Center, and Elizabeth M. Patchias, a health policy analyst at NWLC. It writes,

Women are more likely than men to need health care throughout their lifetimes. Women’s reproductive health needs require them to get regular check-ups, whether or not they have children, and women of all ages are more likely than men -- 60 percent versus 44 percent -- to take prescription medications on a regular basis .... For younger women, this difference is even greater; women ages 19 to 29 use prescription drugs at almost three times the rate of men in that age group. Further, women are more likely than men to have a chronic condition requiring ongoing treatment (38% vs. 30%). Finally, certain mental health problems, including anxiety and depression, affect twice as many women as men.

It concludes,

Given these factors, policy proposals that provide comprehensive benefits at affordable cost would help more women obtain meaningful coverage. Conversely, reforms that result in higher out-of-pocket expenses and limited benefits will not significantly improve the health and financial security of women.

Exactly, ladies.