Resources for the Top Women’s Health Concerns

HEALTH & WELLNESS

By California Broker Magazine

Women frequently feel unheard or underserved in the U.S. healthcare system. According to a nationwide Women’s Health Survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), 34% of women reported having at least one negative experience with a healthcare provider in the prior two years. Reports ranged from providers ignoring direct questions to blaming patients for their health issues. As a trusted advocate, you have the opportunity to shape women’s experiences by taking them seriously and helping them get the care they need. When you connect women with needed health services, you establish yourself as a trustworthy ally. The first step is to familiarize yourself with the leading medical concerns of women and the services available to address them.

Cancer

Women develop cancer at a higher rate than men, and the difference is growing. The American Cancer Society recently reported that cancer rates are 82% higher in women under 50 than in men of the same age group. Cancer rates are also increasing among women aged 50 to 64, while declining in men of the same age.

Women benefit from having access to cancer services that address their unique medical, emotional, and social needs. Fortunately, among the many California hospitals with cancer centers, several have services specifically for women. These include:

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Breast Care Center
Women’s cancer services at Cedars Sinai, Los Angeles
Stanford Women’s Cancer Center at Stanford Medicine in Palo Alto

If these services aren’t local to your clients, consider developing a list of your own. Reach out to these or other highly rated providers and learn who they recommend in your area. Physician review sites, such as Zocdoc, can also be valuable.

Heart Health

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women nationwide. In 2023, it was responsible for approximately one in five lives lost, yet only 56% of women are aware that it is a leading killer.

One significant danger is that cardiac symptoms in women are often different than those in men. Your female client may not know that shortness of breath, severe fatigue, and even upper back pain can be heart attack symptoms.

Women-centered cardiac care can go a long way toward keeping female patients safer. Heart health care options in California include:

Providence Women’s Health Services: https://www.providence.org/services/womens-health-services
Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles
Women’s Heart Center at Memorial Care, Long Beach
Women’s Heart Center at El Camino Health, Mountain View

These are woman-led centers with renowned female physicians caring for patients. Keep them in mind for women seeking cardiac care or ask your local heart center for recommendations.

Reproductive Health

Women need reproductive services across all stages of life. Their health concerns range from birth control and fertility support to menstrual health and menopause, and the need for services is more common than many people are aware. According to the KFF’s recent survey, 45% of women have pursued fertility testing, while 38% have taken drugs to improve ovulation.

Fortunately, numerous women’s health centers offer support throughout California, including:

UCSF Center for Reproductive Health, San Francisco
California Center for Reproductive Health, Los Angeles
Reproductive Health Services, Family Health Centers of San Diego

Reproductive health topics are sensitive, and many women are understandably hesitant to share their concerns with someone they don’t know well. Cultivate trust with your clients by providing these resources before your clients need to ask.

Autoimmune Disease

Of the 24 to 50 million Americans living with autoimmune disease, as many as 80% are women. Stanford Medicine scientists now believe that this predisposition may be due to a specific type of ribonucleic acid (RNA) in a woman’s second X chromosome. This RNA binds with specific proteins, many of which have known connections to autoimmune disease.

Research like this could lead to significant advancements in autoimmune care for women. Meanwhile, doctors at Stanford and across California are providing care for autoimmune disorders such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and celiac disease. Dedicated centers include:

Kao Autoimmunity Institute at Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles
La Jolla Institute for Immunology, San Diego
Stanford Immunology and Rheumatology Clinic, Palo Alto

You may also direct your patients to disorder-specific care centers, such as the Stanford Lupus Clinic and the UCSF Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinic.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis affects an estimated 10 million people nationwide, 80% of whom are women. The risk is particularly high among those over age 50, due to the reduced estrogen levels of menopause. Other risk factors include a slim build, a sedentary lifestyle, and a family history of osteoporosis.

While women-specific osteoporosis centers are rare, several women’s health centers have orthopedic specialists on staff. These include:

Women’s Health Center, Fountain Valley
Conejo Women’s Medical Center, Thousand Oaks
Iris Cantor UCLA Women’s Health Center, Los Angeles

You can offer additional value by researching the osteoporosis specialists and care centers near you, focusing on female physicians and reviews by female patients.

Maternal Health

Maternal and infant care are essential for healthy families, yet 45% of women hold back from discussing concerns about pregnancy or postpartum care. Their concerns are understandable. About one in five women reports mistreatment in maternity care, a number that rises to one in three for key minority groups.

As a trusted advisor, you can help by researching and recommending high-quality maternal care centers to your clients. Hospitals with highly-rated obstetrics departments include:

Providence Mission Hospital, Mission Viejo
Providence St. Joseph Hospital, Orange
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles
Community Memorial Hospital, Ventura

There are many other highly rated hospitals across California. Consider researching those in your area and curating a list of those you trust to care for your clients.

Cultivating Trust Among Women Clients

When you connect women with needed health services, you help them navigate a system that may otherwise feel hostile. Acknowledge your clients’ experiences, and make it your policy to prioritize their preferences, such as exclusively female providers. Be proactive but avoid making assumptions. Only recommend a particular resource if the client needs your help choosing a plan or covered provider and always respect the client’s final choice.

Your responsiveness goes a long way in earning the trust of women clients, and the relationship you build is worth the effort. When those clients have friends needing insurance help, they’ll likely remember your respectful approach.