The Role of Governments in Health Care: Implications for Women's Health and Access to Care

Abstract

The role of government quickly devolved into one of the hot button issues of the 2009–2010 health care reform debate. The intensity surrounding this issue has led us to consider how governments figure into health care delivery in advanced economy countries and to explore what effects greater government intervention might have on women’s health and health care access in the United States. Conflicting viewpoints over the benefits of a public plan reveal sharply differing understandings about health systems abroad. Even feminist policy scholars have long been conflicted about whether government is an adversary or a friend (Dahlerup, 1994). What are the main government roles in health care? How do differences in these roles affect access to care and health? How do women fare in these types of health systems? We begin with a brief discussion of health system organization and how governments figure into systems abroad. We then identify three distinctive features of women’s lives that shape their health care needs, looking to see how women fare in these regards across system types. Finally, we explore U.S. health care organization and reform proposals, discussing which promise to best serve women’s health needs.