My husband and I are trying to have another baby, which generated a discussion of insurance. My family of four is lucky to have family health insurance through my husband’s company. However, I have several friends that own small businesses or need private health insurance. I didn’t realize that the only company that provided prenatal care to individuals or small companies discontinued it over three years ago. One of my friends asked them why and their response was “not profitable”. They were outraged and so am I.

According to Womenshealth.gov, “babies of mothers who do not get prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birth weight and five times more likely to die than those born to mothers who do get care.” Two of my friends can’t afford individual health insurance pay out of pocket expense to see a doctor, but both of them go less than they should. I now worry about their health and that of their unborn child.

I live in Colorado and I want to know why my state government isn’t involved? Are women and children in other states suffering these same problems? Not one Colorado candidate addressed this issue during the recent state election campaign.

One of the problems might stem from lack of adequate statistics. I haven’t been able to locate any, not for the nation nor for the state. Or maybe they are as ignorant as I was, as most candidates were male or older females. I’m not sure, but I find that I’m disturbed by the lack of care to our women and children. I wonder when this country will worry about their own people as much as they do other countries.

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