Health

California’s health care system is in crisis. More than 6.6 million residents are uninsured. Only 34 percent of women in California are insured directly through their employer and employers are reducing all health care coverage. Many women, especially those of color, have lower wage jobs and are less able to afford health plan co-payments and deductibles, therefore often postponing needed medical services. "Pre-existing condition" continues to be a excuse for insurers to not provide needed care.

The inappropriate use of chemicals in pesticides and nail product formulations puts women of childbearing age at great risk of future health problems. Women with disabilities, limited English language ability, mental health and substance abuse problems or who live in remote areas of the state continue to have limited access to health care services. California needs a more culturally diverse health care workforce. Greater attention needs to be given to assure that all services are provided in a gender responsive manner. The goal of the Commission is to improve access for women and girls to all the health services that they need.

To learn more about this issue, please see below.

Health Care Reform

• Women and Health Care Reform At-A-Glance (PDF) - National Women's Law Center, March 2010
• Overhaul Will Lower Cost of Being a Woman - New York Times, March 29, 2010
• Women Need Health Reform (PDF) - National Women's Law Center, updated March 2010
• Reproductive Rights in Health Care Reform - National Women's Law Center
• Health Reform: Implications for Women's Access to Coverage and Care (PDF) - Kaiser Family Foundation, December 2009
• Health Insurance Coverage for Older Adults: Implications of a Medicare Buy-In (PDF) - Kaiser Family Foundation, December 2009
• LBGT Issues in Health Reform: Issue Brief on Making Health Reform Work for All Americans (PDF) - Center for American Progress, July 27, 2009

Women's Health

• Gender-based pricing ban on insurance takes effect - Monterey County Herald, January 16, 2011
• One in Four California Adolescent Girls Have Had Human Papillomavirus Vaccination - Published by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, February 2009
• Women's Health in California: Wide Disparities, Narrow Options - Published by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, August 2008
• Women's Health in California - Health Status, Health Behaviors, Health Insurance Coverage and Use of Services Among CA Women Ages 18-24 (PDF) - Published by the UCLA Center on Health Policy Research, August 2008
• Pedicures at What Price? (PDF) - Senate Office of Research December 2008
• Women's Health: Findings from the California Women's Health Survey, 1997-2003 (PDF) - A compilation of the California Women’s Health Survey findings, 1997-2003
• Women, Health and Aging: Building a Statewide Movement - Papers Commissioned by the California Endowment, May 2007
• California Women's Health 2007 (PDF) - Emerging issues and trends in women's health specific to California.
• Breast Cancer Survival Rates and Health Plan Services (PDF) - By Joel Cohen Prepared at the request of the Speaker of the Assembly Antonio R. Villaraigosa January 2000
• Osteoporosis - Healthy BONES Project - Project of the National Association of Commissions for Women
• Understanding Nutrition: A Primer on Programs and Policies in California - Report

Health Programs

• 2007 Directory of Health Programs Serving Women (PDF) - Description of services available to California women through the former Department of Health Services

Please visit our health links/resources section for additional information.