Increasing Access to Family Planning Services Among Low Income Uninsured Women in the State of South Dakota

Abstract

Reproductive health is a vital component of women’s health and well-being. A woman's reproductive system is a very complex structure in the body. It is vital to take steps to protect it from infections and diseases - including long term health complications. Barriers in women’s reproductive health care access are increasing locally, regionally, and nationally through numerous institutional, legislative, and regulatory restriction levels. Lack of access to these services makes it even more difficult for women to utilize and afford reproductive health care. This lack of access can lead to serious health, social, and economic consequences for women and their families. Disproportionately low-income women are impacted prominently with these consequences as they more often than others qualify for little to no health care insurance coverage. Insurance coverage is critical for making reproductive health services affordable and accessible for low-income women as the financial burden of health care can be unreasonably high. Lack of coverage among low-income women is a prominent challenge in the United States especially in states that did not adopt the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion and no longer benefit from Title X funding. South Dakota, with its high prevalence of low-income uninsured residents, has many residents who fall within the coverage gap. Through increasing provider participation, access and funding, health care clinics can connect low-income uninsured women to family planning programs and other viable reproductive health care insurance programs.