National Women's Law Center

Women and Medicaid: NWLC Toolkit for Advocates

October 2007

Dear Advocate:

Medicaid is a critical source of insurance for low-income women. It covers one-third of all poor women in the U.S., and 40% of single mothers. Over 70% of adult beneficiaries are women, and women are twice as likely as men to qualify for Medicaid coverage. In other words: advocating for Medicaid means advocating for women’s health. Expanding and protecting access to Medicaid is integral to ensuring broader access to health care for low-income women and reducing income-based health disparities.

This toolkit provides a general overview of the ways Medicaid provides health care to women, including analyses of program barriers and select states’ eligibility guidelines, and offers a framework for advocacy. Specifically, the toolkit focuses on the unique challenges associated with low-income women’s access to health care, and offers policy solutions to improving health outcomes and access to care for this population. Almost 18% of women ages 18 to 64 remain uninsured, and over 35% of women with incomes below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level lack health insurance. To improve the health of low-income women, we must advocate for an expanded Medicaid program.

We look forward to working with you in the future on Medicaid advocacy at both the state and federal level. Please contact us if you need additional information or have questions about any of the materials in the toolkit.

Sincerely,

Judy Waxman

Vice President, Health and Reproductive Rights

National Women’s Law Center

Click Here to Access Toolkit