Medicaid's Role for Women

Publication Date: November 2007

Publisher: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

Author(s):

Research Area: Health

Keywords: Women's Health; Health Services

Type: Brief

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

This issue brief describes the wide range of health services that Medicaid covers for women throughout their life spans, including primary and preventive care, pregnancy care, reproductive health care, care for chronic conditions and disabilities, assistance with Medicare costs, and long-term services.

The brief also summarizes Medicaid’s eligibility criteria, provides up to date information on the demographic characteristics of female enrollees, assesses the program’s role in facilitating access to care and discusses some of the policy challenges facing the program.