New Report Finds 75% of Women Skip Healthcare Due to Scheduling Constraints

Key Takeaways

• 75% of women skipped care due to scheduling difficulty
• Over 10% spend more than five hours on a single visit
• 87% say at‑home screening would improve preventive care
• 81% prioritize loved ones' health over their own
• Teal Wand now FDA‑authorized in all 50 states

Pulse Analysis

The new State of Her Health 2026 report underscores a chronic mismatch between women’s daily responsibilities and the traditional, in‑person health‑care model. By quantifying a "time tax"—where a routine primary‑care or OBGYN visit can consume three to five hours—Teal Health illustrates why 75% of women have delayed or avoided care. This scheduling burden compounds existing gender‑based disparities, leading to missed screenings, delayed diagnoses, and higher long‑term costs for the health system.

Digital health innovators see the report as a catalyst for accelerated adoption of at‑home diagnostics and telehealth platforms. With 87% of surveyed women indicating that remote screening would keep them current on preventive services, the market for FDA‑cleared at‑home devices, such as Teal’s HPV self‑collection wand, is expanding rapidly. The nationwide rollout across all 50 states not only broadens access but also aligns with shifting consumer expectations for convenience, especially among the "sandwich generation" juggling caregiving and employment.

For insurers and employers, the data presents a clear business case: investing in flexible care delivery can reduce absenteeism, lower overall health‑care expenditures, and improve employee wellness metrics. Policymakers may also consider incentivizing remote screening through reimbursement reforms. As women increasingly turn to social media, influencers and AI tools for health information, the industry must prioritize patient‑centered, time‑efficient solutions to close the utilization gap and drive better health outcomes across the population.