Does it cost more to be a woman?

I know what you are thinking, of course it cost more to be a woman!  Most of them love to shop and have like a million shoes! I'm not talking about shoes, clothing and accessories. I'm talking about the basic needs and necessities that almost all women will purchase in their life. We're talking health insurance and good old tampons for Miss Flo. This is why woman are taking to the streets to have their voices heard. Sometimes I think when people are shouting no one is listening and I know those fab pink hats can distract from the issues at hand, so let me break it down for you.


First of all what is the Pink Tax?

The "Pink Tax" is referring to the tax that is put on "Feminine Products." In a nutshell they are taxed as a non necessity item. Even though most women use them once a month for 30 years of their lives. Though this percentage varies state to state, only 5 states have made these items tax free. Those are Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New Jersey.

Why Women are concerned about replacing the current Affordable Medical Care Act. 

Those who are against the ACA or "Obama Care" think it's perfectly fine that women should pay more for heath insurance since their health care costs more over their lifetime than men. I remember when my husband and I were first married and starting out in our business, we had to pay for our own health insurance. We hired an Insurance Broker to help us out with finding the best cost and coverage in our budget. Our consultant recommended that we have our insurance separate to save on cost. My insurance, even though I was young and a nonsmoker, was double what my husband's was! I was told it was because I could have a baby and the cost for that could be extremely high. For me, I felt like it was outrageous! I was young and healthy, why should I be punished for what I might do?! Why should I have to pay more for what women have been doing since the dawn of time?

How much does it cost to have a baby? 

There is no way to put an exact cost on having a baby, but the average is around $10,000 without complications. Now let's do the math on what I was paying. I hardly ever used my insurance except for yearly wellness visits and yearly visits to my Gynecologist. So my insurance cost me about $360 a month or $4,320 a year. Based on my current age, that has cost me almost $50,000!  Since then, I've had my son and yearly trips to the doctor. No surgeries. I also paid 20% of the cost for having my son. My husband, on the other hand, has had shoulder dislocations and surgery and his still remained lower.






So why are woman taking to the streets in stylish hats?

Most women are concerned about replacing what the ACA has done for them. Here are just a few positives, that could change with a replacement.

OB GYNs used to be considered a specialist with some insurance plans. Meaning yearly visits or prenatal visits could require a copay of $35 to $50 on average per visit. Now insurance can no longer charge you a copay for these visits.

Insurance companies are no longer allowed to deny you coverage if you are pregnant. This used to be considered a preexisting condition.

They can no longer charge you a higher premium for just being a woman. 

Birth control has to be covered by your insurance provider.

I remember when I was younger I was put on birth control due to extreme cramps. I had a condition that caused me to produce too many hormones that made my uterus contract like I was in labor. Imagine feeling like you were in labor every month. I even passed out and got sick from the pain. You try to tell me that I shouldn't be allowed medicine that can help me. I tried pain meds, but they would make me loopy. Plus, I still got the cramps and then had to wait another thirty minutes for the meds to kick in. My whole day would be over because I couldn't work or drive when I had them. Birth control helped to regulate my hormones and eliminate my pain. I got me my life back. Do you know how embarrassing having to leave work or school because of my period was! It was something I didn't want the world to know I was having.

I hope I've made it clear that women's marches are not just a bunch of angry people screaming for feminist rights. Too many times decisions that impact women are made by old men who have no idea the needs and care of a woman. Tampons are not a luxury but a necessity. Healthcare shouldn't be higher based on what our bodies might and can do. Birth control and women's sexual wellness is necessary and should be made accessible and covered by all insurance providers. People are taking to the streets for basic rights and to be treated equally when it comes to healthcare and feminine care.

I hope I've given you a better understanding on some of the issues that are at hand durning this election season. Please exercise your right vote. It is a right and a privilege that woman in other countries don't possess. Plus you get an awesome sticker you get to brag about on all of your social media platforms.