Women are struggling with health and wealth woes

A new national survey paints a fresh picture of economic stress among American women over the age of 25, with growing concerns about affording health care and retirement expenses.

The survey, conducted by the National Council on Aging and the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement, draws from an online poll of around 1,000 women conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and Lake Research Partners, and marks the second year of gathering data on women's financial and health-related anxieties.

"Health and financial security are the bedrocks of a good quality of life—regardless of age," Ramsey Alwin, president and CEO of NCOA, said in a statement. "It's troubling to hear that women across the lifespan — especially those with lower incomes — continue to struggle, making it extremely difficult for them to prepare for retirement.”

Among its key findings, the report showed less than half of women polled have saved for retirement, with the number dropping to one-third among rural respondents.

Financial insecurity reached amber-alert highs, with 79 percent of low-income women and 67 percent of rural women reporting unstable situations. Those figures have risen since last year, particularly among low-income white and Hispanic women.

The financial strain among women is further compounded by health concerns, with many saying they’re "uncertain" and "worried" about how prepared they are for future health costs. Another one-third reported delays in accessing health care or faced food insecurity over the past year, with 20 percent experiencing delays in filling prescriptions.

"Nearly 6 in 10 women and 81 percent of low-income women told us they do not make enough money right now to save for retirement," said Bill McInturff, partner at Public Opinion Strategies.

Furthermore, around one-third of women, including 49 percent of those with low incomes, doubt that their retirement savings or income will adequately cover monthly bills – an uptick from 2023 data.

"The survey points to ways we can change women's retirement prospects,” said Wiser president Cindy Hounsell. “We can increase access to retirement plans and provide outreach and information to help women improve their financial decision-making. Clearly, we must begin to make the future more secure for women of all ages and incomes."

The report also highlighted possible fixes through fiscal policy, with bipartisan support among women for enhanced Medicare coverage and other federal initiatives aimed at easing these financial burdens.

Some of the strongest support was for expanding Medicare to cover all care and treatment options for serious chronic diseases, enhancing Medicare and Medicaid to let older adults receive care at home, and giving family caregivers a tax break to help cover their out-of-pocket expenses related to looking after a seriously ill, disabled or elderly loved one.