Clinical Care

Health insurance is a critical factor

in ensuring women and children receive the preventive and medical care they need to achieve and maintain good health. Benefits of health insurance coverage

among children include increased

access to and use of preventive, primary and specialty health care, as well as higher quality of care and improved health outcomes.

Significant changes over time. Nationally, the percentage of women ages 19-44 not covered by private or public health insurance decreased 9% from 12.9% to 11.8% between 2019 and 2021. In 2021, approximately 6,641,000 U.S. women were uninsured, a decrease of 550,000 compared with 2019. The uninsured rate among women decreased in 12 states, led by 49% in Vermont (5.7% to 2.9%), 41% in Idaho (18.3% to 10.8%) and 36% in Maine (10.7% to 6.9%).

Nationally, the percentage of children younger than 19 years not covered by private or public health insurance decreased 5% from 5.7% to 5.4% between 2019 and 2021. The uninsured rate among children decreased 20% in Illinois (4.0% to 3.2%) and 7% in Texas (12.7% to 11.8%). During this same period, the uninsured rate among children increased 40% in Idaho (5.0% to 7.0%).

Disparities. In 2021, the uninsured rate among women was 8.8 times higher in Texas (25.6%) than Massachusetts and Vermont (both 2.9%) and the rate among children was 9.1 times higher in Texas (11.8%) than Massachusetts (1.3%).

Women’s health providers — such as obstetricians, gynecologists and midwives — specialize in reproductive topics

including pregnancy, contraception (birth control) and menopause. They also advise on long-term health and wellness as well as provide important preventive health

services for women like cancer screening, contraception counseling and well-woman visits.

Changes over time. Nationally, the number of obstetricians, gynecologists and midwives per 100,000 females ages 15 and older decreased 7% from 49.5 to 46.0 between September 2021 and September 2022, the first decline since this measure was added to the report in 2020. As of September 2022, there were approximately 63,500 women’s health providers in the U.S., a decrease of 4,600 compared with September 2021. The supply of women’s health providers decreased at a rate greater than or equal to the nation in 20 states, led by 16% in Rhode Island (72.2 to 60.4 providers per 100,000 females ages 15 and older) and 13% in both Nebraska (46.8 to 40.6) and New Jersey (52.2 to 45.5).

Disparities. The supply of women’s health providers was 3.8 times higher in Alaska (103.8 providers per 100,000 females ages 15 and older) than Alabama (27.5) in September 2022. The supply was highest in the District of Columbia (107.0).

Pediatricians are physicians who specialize in treating mental and physical illness in children from birth through young adulthood

. They also monitor the development of children and provide preventive care

, including vaccinations, through wellness exams.

Changes over time. Nationally, the number of pediatricians per 100,000 children ages 0-21 increased 2% from 107.2 to 109.3 between September 2021 and September 2022. As of September 2022, there were approximately 99,300 pediatricians in the U.S., an increase of 2,900 compared with September 2021. The supply of pediatricians increased at a rate greater than or equal to the nation in 30 states and the District of Columbia, led by 8% in Oklahoma (67.6 to 72.9 providers per 100,000 children ages 0-21), Alaska (86.6 to 93.7) and the District of Columbia (524.2 to 564.4) between 2021 and 2022. During this same period the supply decreased 4% in Rhode Island (191.9 to 183.3) and 2% in Delaware (176.5 to 172.1), New Jersey (123.3 to 120.6), Vermont (145.1 to 142.4) and Wisconsin (104.5 to 102.9).

Disparities. The supply of pediatricians was 4.7 times higher in Massachusetts (214.0 providers per 100,000 children ages 0-21) than Wyoming (45.6) in September 2022. The supply was highest in the District of Columbia (564.4).