Women between the ages of 18 and 55 -- you -- shell out 25 to 50 percent more than men for identical health insurance. Ludicrous, we know.

But last Tuesday the health-care industry offered to help a sister out by not charging women higher premiums than men. (This is after insurers said in November that they would accept all customers, regardless of illness or disability, if Congress required all citizens to have health coverage. In March, they took the next step and offered to stop charging higher premiums to sick people.) But like all good things, there's a catch: We'd all have to buy our own insurance as a way to avoid a universal health-care system.

Doctor, Doctor Give Me the News

At a Senate hearing earlier this month, Karen M. Ignagni, president of America's Health Insurance Plans, claimed her trade group would close the gap in coverage costs for women if they purchased individual insurance. The gesture comes as a defense against the Obama administration's proposed universal health-care plan, which would have the government and the insurance industry competing for clients.

Obviously, there are pros and cons to both sides. Under a universal health-care plan, people worry about the quality of health care or having to wait months for a doctor's visit. (Just ask our neighbors to the North about their government-run system.) But it'd be free*. Without the creation of a universal health-care plan, you'd be paying monthly fees for insurance whose quality you'd be able to select.

Here's to Your Health

Why do women pay more for health care? Because we take better care of ourselves. Keep reading after the jump.

From the NY Times article:

"In interviews last fall, insurance executives said they had a sound reason for the different premiums: Women ages 19 to 55 tend to cost more than men of the same age because they typically use more health care, especially in the childbearing years. Moreover, insurers said women were more likely to visit doctors, to get regular checkups, to take prescription medications and to have certain chronic illnesses."

Yep.

If you're a 30-year-old woman in Florida, for example, Blue Cross Blue Shield will charge you $109 to $133 a month under its Cover Florida plan. A man of the same age would only pay from $92 to $116. We'll let you fantasize about what you could do with that extra $40 a month if only you hadn't been born a girl.

And sadly, high insurance is keeping many women from being covered. A new study by the Commonwealth Fund further confirms the scary trend. About 70 percent, or 63.8 million, of working-age women in the U.S. have no insurance, too little insurance, have medical debt or skimped on care because of costs. Just 59 percent, or 51.9 million, of working-age men are in a similar boat.

Women Check Up

Here's what some women have to say about the health-care reform options being presented.

Sarah thinks something needs to be done to make sure more women are covered, but doesn't know if universal health care is the answer:

"I'm not sure I'm interested in, for the sake of equality, moving to a universal system where the quality of overall health care takes a hit. In Canada, for instance, people often cross the border to seek quality, timely treatments because they aren't always available in Canada. In terms of charging women higher rates than men, we see discriminating practices in other areas, and for good reason. Young men are charged higher car insurance rates than young women."

Christine would rather have more options for coverage than a government-run system:

"I have yet to see a model for 'universal' health care that I would want to emulate in the U.S. But I think part of the problem is that we often have no choice or very little choice in our insurance plans or what they cover. Why is it that I can pick any number of home or car insurance plans and decide on things like deductible, collision coverage, etc., but I can have no such choices with health insurance, or a very limited choice?"

Tell us: Would you rather be able to afford your own insurance or would you rather have free care through the government?

*We'll save that conversation for another time.