The Commonwealth Fund recently released a report that highlights the benefits of health care reform for women, especially those who do not currently have health insurance.

The rising cost of healthcare and a lagging job market have left many women in the lurch as far as health insurance goes. The study found that women who do not have insurance had difficulty finding an affordable plan and that many private insurers charge women a higher premium than they do men of the same age.

Furthermore, regardless of their health insurance coverage, many women are not getting the care they need. The report estimates that only 46 percent of women were up-to-date on preventative care services, including mammograms.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act offers a solution to both the problem of obtaining health insurance and receiving adequate care. Small business tax credits mean that more women are being offered subsidized insurance plans by their employers. In addition, mandates that require services such as pap-smears and mammograms to be covered in full by insurers mean that more women will have access to the care they need.