Among other takeaways from the research:

Women visit doctors more often, fill more prescriptions and manage more chronic conditions, leading to higher total out-of-pocket costs across the board. However, this isn’t just about spending more -- it’s also about avoiding even greater costs down the line. Many conditions women manage, from migraines to anxiety to asthma, can have debilitating effects if left untreated, leading to lost productivity, diminished quality of life and even higher medical expenses in the future.
Women aged 18 to 44 face the steepest price gap, spending up to 64% more than men, all while balancing career, family planning and caregiving. In certain years, women in this age range have spent up to 64% more on prescriptions than men, reflecting both higher utilization rates and the specific health conditions that disproportionately affect them. Even among older adults, where the spending gap narrows, women continue to outspend men. In 2024, women aged 45 to 64 spent 35% more, and women over 65 still outspent men by 17%.
Women also significantly outspend men on mental health treatments, including 113% more on depression medications and 103% more on anxiety treatments. Bipolar disorder treatments also show a 46% higher spending rate among women. These disparities likely are driven by higher prescription fill rates -- women fill prescriptions for depression 112% more often than men. Insomnia medications reflect a similar trend, with women spending 58% more and filling 66% more prescriptions than men.

“This systemic financial burden can be viewed as a covert form of the pink tax -- one that isn’t as visible as product price markups but is just as impactful,” the report concluded. “Women are not only paying more for the same products, but they are also paying more because their health care needs are different and often more expensive.”

Instant Insights /

Women spend 30% more out-of-pocket for health care than men, study finds

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