Focus on women’s needs
After months of television and radio debates, I’m sure everyone by now is aware of Obama’s push for health care reform. However, few are aware that women of child-bearing age spend 68 percent more in out-of-pocket health care costs than men. This is an egregious spending gap between the sexes. Clearly, what America really needs is women’s health-care reform.
As a husband, and father of two daughters, I would expect that Obama is aware of the huge role health care centers like Planned Parenthood play in reducing this cost gap. Planned Parenthood provides wellness exams, cancer screening, contraception, STD testing and treatment and more to women across the country. With help from state and federal funds, Planned Parenthood is able to provide financial assistance that gives low-income women access to these services. A poor economy, and clientele increase of more than a million between 2000 and 2006 has not only increased the need for federal funding, but has also demonstrated the need for women’s health care reform.
Thus, it is crucial that Obama pushes Congress to develop a health care reform package that provides Planned Parenthood with tools to reduce this spending gap.
Emily Juhre
Greenacres