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Massachusetts and Vermont tie for the lowest rate of uninsured women at 2.9%. Texas continues to have the highest rate at 25.6%, and Oklahoma continues to rank 49th (of 50), with 20.5% of its women of reproductive age living without healthcare coverage.1“Uninsured Women by State,” America’s Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org. Accessed April 2024.
The number of uninsured women ages 19-64
Source: America’s Health Rankings
An uninsured woman has no health insurance coverage, either public or private.
This indicator does not reflect women who are underinsured with financially burdensome plans or “catastrophic plans.” Catastrophic plans have very high deductibles, meaning they offer little to no support for routine care but will offer assistance during catastrophic health events.
Nationally, women are more likely to be insured than men.
One reason for this is that more women are on Medicaid (see Women Enrolled in Medicaid/SoonerCare). Women are able to qualify through programs related to having children and, on average, have lower incomes – meaning they’re more likely to fall within the income requirements.
Medicaid access is part of the reason why women were more likely to retain healthcare coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The majority of women nationally (60%) receive health insurance through their employer.2“Women’s Health Insurance Coverage,” Kaiser Family Foundation, kff.org. December 2023. Consequently, uninsured women are unlikely to receive regular preventative care such as pap tests, mammograms, and blood pressure checks.
Women often fill caretaking roles for their job, children, and family members. A woman’s absence, slow down, or disability due to health has a wide impact.
This issue brief was written by Metriarch staff as part of our Data Lookbook. Contributions and peer review were provided by Emma Morris with Oklahoma Policy Institute.
Suggested citation
Metriarch. “Access to Quality Care,” Data Lookbook (2024). URL: metriarchok.org/uninsured-women.
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