Let’s close the women’s health equity gap

Over the past few decades, our understanding of women’s health has changed and continues to evolve. We have better knowledge about the barriers women face when trying to access care. But more must be done to better support women on their unique health care journeys.

Starting this month, CVS Health is working to ensure that Healthier Happens Here for women.

We are dedicated to making it easier for women to access the care and support they need – wherever they are in life – to help improve their physical and mental wellbeing, leading to improved outcomes, greater productivity and job satisfaction, and lower health care costs for them, their employers, and the health care system.

Widening the lens on women's health

To truly close the equity gap, it’s critical to expand our definition of women’s health beyond limited, traditional areas of focus, like reproductive health.

While we’re all aware of health issues specific to females (i.e, menstrual cycle disorders, pregnancy, menopause, organ-specific cancers), we should also be aware that there are health conditions with different prevalence, presentation, and treatment response for women, including depression, heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Imbalances in access and outcomes

Although women are often known as the “chief health officers” of the family, they encounter barriers when it comes to taking care of themselves. On top of that, certain social and environmental factors can create imbalances in access and outcomes in women. Lower incomes and higher rates of uninsured and underinsured women restrict access to care, and social stigma may restrain women from seeking needed support.

The reality is, with women making up nearly half of the workforce but more than half of health care spend, women have a significant downstream effect when their health needs are unmet.

By widening our lens beyond the reproductive years, acknowledging the health conditions that differently and disproportionately affect women, and intensifying our focus on healthier women, we can not only have a significant, positive impact on our members, but we can also net a healthier bottom line for our clients.

Investing in women's whole health is a winning strategy for all

This is an opportune time for plan sponsors to reconsider how they define women’s health and what resources they offer female members beyond family planning and infertility. Analyzing data for key chronic conditions with tailored outreach programs can ensure equity of access and care for female workers. Learning what barriers prevent employees and members from receiving quality care can drive investments in alternative solutions such as virtual, local, and in-home care resources, which often offer greater flexibility and convenience and more efficient care.

Overall, developing a comprehensive approach to women’s health that provides personalized care experiences will optimize costs, increase productivity, and improve health outcomes for the entire workforce.