Jennifer Riley, Executive Director of Patients Come First Pennsylvania, has highlighted the higher healthcare costs faced by women in Pennsylvania due to co-pay accumulators and inequities. She has called for legislative action in a letter to the editor.
“This is part of a hidden pink tax in our health system, where women consistently pay more simply to maintain their health,” said Riley. “Prescription costs deepen the problem. For women, who already spend more on prescriptions and out-of-pocket care, this practice is devastating. This hidden pink tax on Pennsylvania women’s health is unacceptable.”
According to PR Newswire, employed women in the United States incur approximately $15.4 billion more annually in out-of-pocket healthcare expenses than men, excluding maternity-related services. This financial disparity is particularly significant in Pennsylvania, where women constitute nearly half of the workforce and are disproportionately affected by cost-sharing mechanisms in employer-sponsored plans. The Deloitte report indicates that women’s higher utilization of preventive care, diagnostic testing, and specialist services contributes significantly to this gap, suggesting that Pennsylvania women are likely experiencing similar additional costs.
Investopedia reports that under single health coverage, women pay on average $266 more per year than men in out-of-pocket expenses, representing an 18% gap when maternity services are excluded. This implies that Pennsylvania women with private insurance plans face an unequal financial burden compared to male enrollees for equivalent coverage. Such inequities are exacerbated in the state by higher usage of outpatient and preventive services, underscoring gender as a driver of medical cost differences.
The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4), a state agency providing detailed data on hospital charges, payments, and patient outcomes, shows that cost burdens can vary significantly based on gender, diagnosis, and insurer. According to PHC4’s hospital financial reports, Pennsylvanians are already facing rising deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. Women are more likely to use higher-cost services such as obstetrics, imaging, and behavioral health. By offering transparency into utilization and spending patterns, PHC4 highlights how systemic disparities in cost-sharing manifest within Pennsylvania specifically.
In addition to her role as Executive Director of Patients Come First Pennsylvania, Riley is also State Director at Marsy’s Law for Pennsylvania with over 20 years of experience in public affairs and government relations. Her LinkedIn profile states she previously served as Managing Director at the Bravo Group and holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh. She is active in victim advocacy as President of the Board of Directors for the Victim Witness Assistance Program in Dauphin County and Secretary of the Crime Victims Alliance of Pennsylvania.
