More than 20-million low-income women receive coverage for their health and long-term care through Medicaid, the nation's public health insurance program for the low income population. Although Medicaid is not typically considered a women’s health program, the majority of adult beneficiaries (69%) are female.

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.

 Issue Brief (.pdf)

Previous Versions:

 May 2006 (.pdf)

 November 2004 (.pdf)

 Report, November 2000 (.pdf)