Women and girls face significant challenges when it comes to accessing healthcare and paying for medical expenses. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that more than 12.6 million women did not have health insurance in 2020, as reported by the National Women’s Law Center.
Being an uninsured or underinsured woman can result in not being able to afford vital medical treatments and procedures. The alternative? Taking on crippling debt to pay for necessary care.
Many people in the United States have turned to online fundraising platforms to help cover the rising costs of healthcare. This trend highlights the inadequacies of the current healthcare system.
Interestingly, most of these people are women. This disproportionate reliance on crowdfunding reflects the unique challenges and disparities women face when it comes to medical expenses. These include:
- Lower incomes
- Higher rates of chronic illness
- Greater caregiving responsibilities
Let’s explore these factors and understand why many women use online fundraisers to ask for donations for medical expenses.
Key Reasons Why Women Are Relying on Online Fundraising to Pay for Healthcare Costs
Recent research from Advisory Board highlights the growing trend of medical crowdfunding. Many people start online fundraisers to ask their communities for financial assistance. We love that this article is bringing awareness to fundraising for medical expenses, but we don’t love that it’s missing one key part of the story:
Women represent the largest group of people who initiate medical fundraisers.
We uncovered this insight by surveying our own community members at AngeLink.
Gendered financial inequalities, such as the wage gap and women’s role as primary caregivers, deepen the need for women to seek alternative funding sources like online crowdfunding. It’s time to talk about this more!
Our experts at AngeLink have compiled a list of key reasons why women turn to online fundraising for medical costs. Check them out below:
The Gender Gap
According to Pew Research Center, women only earn 82% of what men earn. This gap is even wider for women of color. Women are also more likely than men to work in low-paying jobs with fewer benefits, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Lower wages mean less disposable income to allocate toward medical expenses, making it harder for women to cover their healthcare costs. When emergency medical expenses arise, they have fewer resources to use.
Healthcare costs are high in the United States. Women are more likely to skip or delay care due to cost, according to research from KFF. Unfortunately, this can lead to worsening health conditions. More frequent and severe illnesses contribute to higher medical bills for women.
And guess what? Many women often have to care for others. Let’s not forget—they’re wives, mothers, daughters, and caregivers. As a result, they may take time off work to look after family members. This reduces their income further. Sometimes, women even risk losing their jobs.
When this happens, crowdfunding becomes a necessary option to cover these gaps. As a simple, secure, and convenient option, online fundraising is a lifeline for many women facing unprecedented medical expenses.
More Women Live Paycheck to Paycheck
In a study by CareerBuilder, 81% of women reported living paycheck to paycheck (vs. 75% of men). This means they have no savings for emergencies. Medical expenses can be unexpected and large, especially for uninsured or underinsured individuals. 67% of women consider themselves “financially fragile,” according to CNBC.
A $1,000 hospital bill would break the bank for someone living paycheck to paycheck. Here are the facts:
- Medical bills can be very high.
- Women often have to choose between paying bills and getting healthcare.
- Crowdfunding fills the gap when they need fast money.
Through online fundraising, women can ask for help without feeling embarrassed. This makes crowdfunding an essential resource for many women.
Women Pay More For Healthcare
Women often have higher health costs than men. They need more medical services throughout their lives, including reproductive health and maternity care.
Recent research by Deloitte reveals that women pay an estimated $15 billion more each year than men for healthcare expenses. This substantial financial disparity persists even after excluding maternity-related services. There are clear gendered economic inequalities in healthcare costs.
Insurance often doesn’t cover all these expenses. As a result, women end up paying out of pocket. This can lead to high medical debt. Online fundraising helps women manage these costs. They get crucial support from their community in times of need. Crowdfunding helps them manage the high costs of healthcare so they can focus on their health instead of worrying about financial burdens.
Raise Money for Medical Expenses with the World’s First Woman-Owned Crowdfunding Platform
The unique financial and caregiving challenges women face make online fundraising an essential lifeline for many dealing with medical expenses.
AngeLink, as the world’s first woman-owned crowdfunding platform, is one of the most highly trusted medical fundraising sites. Our platform is designed to provide a supportive, secure, and user-friendly environment for women seeking financial assistance from their communities.
By choosing AngeLink, women can access the help they need swiftly and with dignity. They can use our platform to share their story and get financial relief with medical fundraising. Join us at AngeLink to become part of a compassionate network that cares and supports women in times of need.