title: Women's health and the Affordable Care Act: high hopes versus harsh realities?
abstract: Our population-based survey of 1078 randomly sampled US women, aged 18 to 55 years, sought to characterize their understanding of and attitudes toward the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Most women, especially socially disadvantaged groups, had negative or uncertain attitudes toward the ACA and limited understanding of its health benefits, including its relevance for their own health service coverage and utilization. Our findings are important for continued research, policy, and practice, with implications for whether, when, and how improved coverage will translate to improved access and outcomes for US women.
authors.affiliation: Kelli Stidham Hall is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. A. Mark Fendrick is with the Department of Internal Medicine and the Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan. Melissa Zochowski is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan. Vanessa K. Dalton is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Program on Women's Health Care Effectiveness Research and the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan.
authors.forename: Kelli Stidham
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: A Mark
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fendrick
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zochowski
authors.forename: Vanessa K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Dalton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult