by Ashley B. Carson and Adam J. Payne (The Older Women’s League)

As the country unwinds from an historic and heated election, we must approach the economic work that lies ahead with energy and deliberation, particularly with regard to its impact on women. In late September, the US House passed an economic stimulus package. On the same day Senate Republicans filibustered, bringing any debate for an economic recovery package to a screeching halt. Now a second stimulus package is in the works. Unemployment is at a 14-year high and health care in America is more dysfunctional than it has ever been.

Legislators must understand that funding Medicaid, an essential health program, that has been ignored and is already seeing drastic cuts in several states -- is a proven way to help our economy find stability again. Boosting the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) would provide the necessary funding by adding a larger percentage of federal dollars to the state programs.

Medicaid provides health care assistance to more than 20 million low-income women in the US. It is not a women-only health care program, but women comprise 69% of the adult beneficiaries. These funds would prevent the slashing of non-mandatory services, including many women's health care services. If the Medicaid funding isn’t there, women will be forced to pay out-of-pocket or go without, risking greater health problems and costs down the road.

Not only has women’s health care been compromised by our current economic crisis, but women’s jobs are disappearing, resulting in loss of health insurance and families at risk. We are all aware of the current trend, the downward spiral, and the troubling reality that is our current economic situation. As President-Elect Barack Obama noted in his first official press conference, “October marks the 10th consecutive month that our economy has shed jobs. . .more than 10 million Americans are now unemployed.” Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) issued a stark comparison, “In this period of economic downturn there's one area where [women] have achieved equality, job loss."

Currently, women’s unemployment has risen by 9%, compared to 4% for men. Certainly neither number is encouraging for American families.
The reality is this: When women don’t work, families are hard hit. Families more commonly sustain themselves with the steady flow of two incomes. The average American family has established a working budget, sharing mortgage payments, medical expenses, food costs, and the like. The fact that women are losing their jobs at a faster rate than men will have an alarming impact on America’s households and will compound the struggle for health care access and affordability.

An urgent appeal for the new Administration and the 111th Congress: Medicaid funding must be included in the stimulus package. Let us focus on our citizens, not the corporations.