Gender Divide In Health Insurance: Why Women Pay More, Get Less

There is a silent crisis brewing in India’s healthcare system, one that doesn’t always make the headlines. It’s not just about rising hospital bills or the burden of ‘out-of-pocket’ expenses but a broader gender divide. This is about how healthcare costs affect men and women differently and how our systems, namely, insurance, employment and access, are not designed to meet women’s needs.

According to the latest India Fit Report 2025 by GOQii, an Indian fitness technology company, healthcare costs don’t affect men and women equally.

The report, titled Beyond the Brink: Confronting India's Healthcare Affordability Crisis notes that healthcare affordability is not gender-neutral, women face greater financial and structural challenges when it comes to accessing and affording healthcare.

Insurance Coverage: A Glaring Gap

The data shows that only 11.8 per cent of women in India have private health insurance, in comparison to 57 per cent of men.

Despite needing more healthcare services such as maternity care, reproductive health, and frequent screenings, women are significantly underinsured.

The reasons for this gap are layered. The report finds that many work in informal sectors where employer-sponsored insurance doesn’t exist. Even when they work in formal jobs, career breaks for caregiving often interrupt coverage.

So what happens? Without adequate health insurance, women end up facing higher out-of-pocket medical expenses, delayed treatments, and limited access to specialised care.

The toll of Rising Medical Bills

The report highlights how rising costs are affecting both men and women but in very different ways. Here’s how:

- 36 per cent of men say rising medical costs have not impacted their access to care

- Just 9.2 per cent of women can say the same

This means that almost 90 per cent of women feel financially strained when trying to seek healthcare. For them, healthcare might be a choice between a blood test and a grocery bill.

Who is more likely to delay medical treatments?

However, women remain more proactive than men when it comes to taking care of their health.

Data shows 9.21 per cent of men have delayed seeking medical treatment, compared to only 3.1 per cent of women. Similarly, 5.7 per cent of men have skipped necessary treatment, whereas only 0.9 per cent of women have done so.

Moreover, 29.39 per cent of men have reduced how often they visit healthcare providers, compared to 6.6 per cent of women.

This creates a disturbing paradox: Men avoid care by choice; women avoid care because they have no choice.

Why do men and women delay medical treatments?

Men appear to cut back on routine check-ups and preventive care more than women likely because of higher healthcare expenses, work constraints, or lower prioritisation of regular medical visits. Women, however, find it harder to access specialised healthcare services which can delay critical diagnosis and treatments.

The survey further reveals that high out-of-pocket expenses are the leading reason for men to postpone treatment wherein 15 per cent have cited cost as a major factor.

Financial concerns are the leading factors that affect both men and women when it comes to healthcare. Here’s why they delay treatments:

Insurance Claim Rejections (3 per cent men, 1 per cent women): Some individuals face rejected claims which makes treatment unaffordable.

Insufficient Coverage (4 per cent of women, 3 per cent of men): Women are more likely to skip treatment due to inadequate insurance coverage.

Other financial concerns such as unexpected costs, lack of savings, and economic instability also contribute to delays affecting 13 per cent of men and 3 per cent of women.

It is evident that affordability concerns impact healthcare access differently for men and women.

This highlights the need for cost-effective solutions, better insurance coverage, and policies that make routine healthcare more accessible.

Why are women left out?

There is no single reason, multiple factors result in women being under-insured such as:

Workforce gaps: Women are more likely to work in informal jobs without benefits. When they leave their jobs for caregiving, they lose employer-sponsored insurance.

Higher premiums: The report states that women often pay more for insurance. This is because they typically require more frequent medical care, including reproductive health services, maternity care, and preventive screenings.

Less financial decision-making power: In many households, men make the money calls, including health insurance purchases. This puts women in the backseat when it comes to making decisions related to healthcare, especially insurance.

Lack of awareness: Many women don’t know what coverage is available or how to access it.

In effect, the report points out that women pay more, get less, and mostly have bleak access to healthcare due to low insurance coverage.

Policymakers and healthcare providers should recognise these differences and design plans for greater inclusion of women. For instance, the report states, that insurance companies could offer special riders or add-ons that cover maternity and female-specific cancers in all basic policies, so women are automatically protected. Corporate insurance could continue coverage for women employees even during maternity breaks or if they leave work to care for family (a time they might lose insurance otherwise).

Because good health is not a privilege, healthcare must be made gender-inclusive.