Women have slightly different health concerns than men.

Adult women should have a yearly gynecological check-up. For women over the age of 40, an annual mammogram is recommended to screen for breast cancer.

Additionally, women tend to pay greater attention to preventative care than men do, and in family settings, they tend to make more of the health care decisions. When you add all of these factors up, and combine the possibility of pregnancy, having health insurance is of great importance to women--and it is something they typically make better use of than men.

Health Insurance Options for Women

If you're a young, single woman, managed care programs like HMO, PPO and POS plans can work great. Most women seem to be adept at using the options their plans present, but be sure you understand what services are covered. Also, check the reputation of the plan.

If you have an established relationship with a physician or Ob/Gyn, be sure they are part of plan's network. Some women elect to use indemnity (FFS) or PPO insurance, specifically to have the freedom to see a specific physician or use a certain hospital.

If you're married, employed and eligible for benefits, carefully compare the plans available to you and your spouse. Choose the plan with the best quality of care, convenience, and of course, cost.

Older woman over the age of 65 can take advantage of Medicare benefits. Low-income women may be eligible for Medicaid benefits.

Health Insurance Options During Pregnancy

Everything changes when you become pregnant.

There are loads of doctor visits and lab tests and they all start as soon as the pregnancy does. Then there are delivery costs and pediatric visits.

Pregnancy is an excellent time to review your health insurance options. It is extremely important, for both your well-being and that of your child, to have medical coverage during this special time.

If you are uninsured and don't believe you can afford health insurance, look into getting Medicaid coverage. Medicaid will assist pregnant mothers that meet certain eligibility requirements. Also, the WIC Program exists to aid Women, Infants & children up to the age of 5.

If you're married, compare plans--many women switch their coverage during this time. There are a variety of reasons for this. Some couples prefer paying a higher premium in exchange for lower co-payments. Other women like to visit a smaller, more personal clinic, while some seek larger networks--that way if they travel with the child to visit family and something happens, they can take advantage of local services.

Whatever you decide, be sure to estimate your out-of-pocket costs for pre-natal, delivery and pediatric care. Budget accordingly and take advantage of Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). Also, check to see if your employer, and your husband's employer, have any intentions of changing their health insurance offerings in the near future. This can have a huge affect on your decisions.