Final answer:
The major reason older women have less access to group health insurance is that they were less likely to be employed when young, leading to reduced insurance benefits. Gender roles and the feminization of poverty further exacerbate access issues, and the structuring of premiums based on risk can make insurance unaffordable. The correct option is C.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major reason that older women have less access to group health insurance of their own is because they were less likely to be employed when young. This lack of employment history often translates to reduced personal entitlement to insurance and benefits, including health insurance.
Historically, women have been more likely to engage in unpaid domestic labor, which does not provide health insurance benefits, and they are also more likely to work in part-time or low-paying jobs that may not offer health insurance.
Furthermore, gender-specific disadvantages also hinder older women's access to health insurance. Social roles have led to disparities in Social Security benefits and trivialization of healthcare concerns among elderly female patients.
The subject of healthcare and insurance is further complicated by the fact that insurance premiums may be set at actuarially fair levels, potentially leading to higher costs for women in general, given that they, on average, consume more in healthcare spending, which could deter some from securing insurance.
Lastly, the phenomenon known as the feminization of poverty highlights that women, especially single heads of household, often have a lower income and standard of living, which can restrict their ability to pay for private health insurance.
Women thus may fall into groups with higher expected healthcare costs, which could lead to higher premiums or lack of access to insurance altogether, especially before the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which aimed to mitigate such issues. The correct option is C.