SUMMARY
- U.S. working women face $15.4 billion extra in health expenses annually.
- Women pay 18% more than men, excluding maternity-related costs.
- Closing the gender gap in health costs? Just $133 per employee annually.
It seems there's a financial hiccup specifically targeting the women in the U.S. workforce. Ladies, when it comes to those pesky out-of-pocket health expenses, you're shouldering an additional $15.4 billion annually compared to the gents. This revelation springs from Deloitte Consulting's deep dive into employer-sponsored health plans.
And before we jump to conclusions, this disparity isn’t because women are spending extravagantly on health. In fact, even after sidelining costs linked with pregnancy and maternity, women are still coughing up 18% more on copays and deductibles, despite their total health expenses being just a smidge (10%) above that of men.
Dr. Kulleni Gebreyes, the lead voice on health equity at Deloitte Consulting, is sounding the alarm. She points out the irony: women, generally earning less, end up paying more for healthcare. It's like a financial double whammy. But why this discrepancy? Well, it's not just about the occasional visit to the gynecologist or the cost of breast cancer screenings. It's about those follow-up visits that come with copays, and often, the costs of these services are loftier than your average deductible.
Yet, all's not lost. Deloitte's sharp-eyed analysts suggest a solution. Employers could seal this $15.4 billion chasm of cost-sharing between genders. The investment? A mere $133 annually for each employee, or breaking it down, roughly the price of three fancy lattes a month.
Gebreyes concludes with a plea. She wants companies to be vigilant, to scrutinize their data and recognize where these monetary gaps lurk. Then, restructure their health benefits in a way that promotes fairness and equality for all in the workforce.
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