ACOG Committee Opinion No. 308. The uninsured.

Abstract

The United States is one of the.few industrialized nations in the world that does not guarantee access to health care for its population. Access to health care for all women is a paramount concern of obstetrician-gynecologists and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Lack of health care coverage creates access issues that affect women, practitioners, and the health care system as a whole. The number of women in the United States without health care coverage grew 3 times faster than the number of men without such coverage during the late 1990s and early 2000s. A change in our currently fragmented health care system is warranted because the lack of coverage clearly matters to the millions of uninsured Americans. Pregnant women and infants are among the most vulnerable populations in the country and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists believes that providing them with fill insurance coverage must be a primary step in the process of providing coverage for all Americans. However, it is only the first step; it is critical to expand coverage for all Americans. Health professionals can play a pivotal role in improving access to needed health care by helping society understand the importance of broadening health insurance coverage.