Various Factors Lead Half of Women to Skip or Delay Medical Care 

By Consumers for Quality Care, on October 2, 2024

According to a new report from Deloitte, a “triple threat” of factors – affordability, access challenges, and negative past experiences – cause nearly half of all women to skip or delay the medical care they need, as reported by Fierce Healthcare. 

The survey found that women were 35 percent more likely to skip medical care than men because of access challenges, such as long wait times or the lack of any available appointments. 

Women were also more likely than men to forgo medical care, including mental health care, because of cost. Nearly half of the women surveyed said they would be unable to pay for a $500 medical emergency, as compared to just 25 percent of men who expressed concerns over such an emergency. 

A previous report from Deloitte found that women with employer-sponsored coverage paid an estimated $15 billion more annually for their medical care compared to men, despite having similar health insurance. 

Deloitte also found that 40 percent of women skip or delay medical care because of a prior negative experience with a provider or staff member. The report also found that women’s health care issues are often misdiagnosed or overlooked as compared to men. 

The most frequently delayed types of care for women are acute illness care, preventive care, and women’s health issues. In the long run, this leads to increased costs and more dire health conditions. “The more we delay care, the more likely we’re going to be sicker when it’s diagnosed and the more likely it’s going to cost us more,” said Kulleni Gebreyes, M.D., U.S. Chief Health Equity Officer and Managing Principal of Life Sciences and Healthcare at Deloitte. 

CQC urges lawmakers, health care providers, and insurers to address these inequities in our health care system and level out health care costs for all consumers.