WASHINGTON - Health care in America has been described as costly and confusing, inefficient and unjust. But women who don't get insurance through an employer may have it worst of all.

ABC 7's Caroline Lyders went to the ones who know best -- doctors and nurses, insurance companies, and, of course, women themselves -- to learn the top five reasons why health care is a woman's issue.

Number One: Women, on average, earn less than men -- but pay more for private health insurance.

"In about 40 states, health insurance companies are allowed to charge more for women," said Karyn Schwartz, a senior policy analyst for the Kaiser Family Foundation.

How much more? Anywhere between 20 and 140 percent, experts say.

George Washington University graduate student Jana Baldwin pays $400 for insurance and $200 for medication each month. She has been forced to make a choice between health care and homelessness. She chose health care.

"It was either living in a home or paying for health insurance," she said. "And that's what it's come down to."

Number Two: If women pay more for health insurance on the individual market -- it's not because of pregnancy. In fact, under most private policies, comprehensive maternity coverage isn't even included! And when women do have a baby, they may be penalized for it, in the future.

"We know of situations where women who have had cesarean sections, for example, are told that they cannot get either insurance or maternity coverage in the future at all," said Marcia Greenberger, the founder and co-president of the National Women's Law Center.

Number Three: Health insurance in America is tied to full-time employment, which women are more than 20 percent less likely to have than men.

"We know a lot of employers don't extend health insurance to part-time employees. And women are a lot more likely to work part time," Schwartz said.

Number Four: Health insurance companies in 10 states and the District of Columbia can penalize women who are victims of domestic violence.

Christina Turner, who went on anti-HIV medication after being brutally raped, found herself dropped altogether.

"In the middle of March, I get a letter that said my coverage has been terminated," Turner said.

While HIV free, she still went three years before she could get covered again.

Reason Five: Because most women take care of the health of their families.

Eight in 10 mothers say choose their children's doctors and take them to appointments.

One in 10 women care for a sick relative. And 10 in 10 women have their own health to nurture, in the meantime.

In 2008, 14.5 million American women purchased health insurance through the individual market. In all but 12 states, they can legally be charged more than men -- for the same coverage.

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