[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3852]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH CARE REFORM TO WOMEN

  (Ms. HIRONO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, it bears repeating, few Americans have more 
at stake in health care reform than women.
  Forty States allow private health insurance companies to gender rate 
their premiums. As a result, a 25-year-old woman may pay between 6 
percent and 45 percent more than a 25-year-old man to get the same 
coverage.
  Fifty-two percent of women reported postponing or forgoing medical 
care because of cost. Only 39 percent of men reported having had those 
experiences.
  Nine States allow private plans to refuse coverage for domestic 
violence survivors.
  Eighty-eight percent of private insurance plans do not cover 
comprehensive maternity care. In many policies, a previous C-section 
and being pregnant are considered preexisting conditions.
  Less than half of all women in America have employer-sponsored 
insurance. This is partly due to the fact that more women tend to work 
for small businesses or have part-time jobs where health insurance is 
not offered, certainly the case in Hawaii.
  It's time for reform.

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