Washington (H24N). Millions of women are at risk of going without needed medical care during their pregnancies because they have no health insurance, according to a report commissioned by the March of Dimes.

The March of Dimes study, based on data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau, shows that the number of women between the ages of 15 and 44 without health insurance has not decreased much in the last year.

There are nearly 12 million uninsured women in the United States. In 1998, they made up about 19.8 percent of all women. In 1999, that figure only dropped to 19.2 percent.

The number of uninsured women varied significantly from state to state, and from racial and ethnic group. In New Mexico, for example, 30 percent of the women there lacked health insurance, while less than 10 percent of the women in Minnesota did.

"Hispanic and Native American women of childbearing age were about twice as likely as whites to lack health insurance," said Deborah Norville, March of Dimes campaign spokesperson and "Inside Edition" anchor.

In fact, 37 percent of Hispanic women and 35 percent of Native American women were uninsured in 1999, compared with 18 percent of white women. Twenty-five percent of African-American women and 24 percent of Asian women were uninsured.

Being uninsured has substantial health consequences for women of childbearing age. According to the March of Dimes, about 59 percent of all women between the ages of 15 and 44 have family incomes below 200 percent of the poverty level.

"Studies have found that the uninsured report poorer health status, are less likely to have a usual source of medical care and are more likely to go without needed health care services than the insured," said Jennifer Howse, MD, president of the March of Dimes. "A lack of health insurance makes health services unaffordable for these women who may become pregnant, making it difficult for them to receive the health care they need."

The March of Dimes proposes enrolling more women of childbearing age into Medicaid – the government-sponsored program for the poor, and opening up the nation’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to eligible pregnant women under the age of 19.

"Many more of these women would benefit if CHIP was expanded to provide coverage to pregnant women and parents, as well as, children," said Howse.

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