American women do not live as long as women in other high-income countries.

Life expectancy for women of color in the United States is even lower. The latest federal data explains why.

Researchers are investigating what the numbers mean and what we can do about it.

“The problem is access,” said women’s health specialist Dr. La Tanya Hines of Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles.

Access to health care and its affordability are the main reasons why U.S. women have the lowest life expectancy among 14 high-income countries. According to a new study by the Commonwealth Fund, American women live to an average age of 80, compared to 87 in Japan and South Korea and 85 in Sweden and Australia.

“More than 14 percent of women in this country, regardless of social background, do not have access to health care. That means they cannot go to their primary care doctor. If you have a problem, that means you may have to go to the emergency room more often for less acute problems, but you may not necessarily get what you need,” she said.

The study also found that U.S. women have high rates of preventable deaths from heart disease, stroke and cancer.

“They are sicker and younger. She is severely overweight. She has diabetes and high blood pressure.”

At least a quarter of all American women regularly take four different prescription medications. Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women.

Everywhere, women of color faced more barriers to care and unmet social needs.

“When you don’t know where your next meal is coming from and you work a job without health insurance, you’re just trying to make ends meet, and that, once again, creates a lot of inequality,” Hines said.

However, the national data do not allow conclusions to be drawn about the considerable differences between the individual states.

“We’re not perfect here in California, but we’re much better than places that haven’t expanded Medicaid to all patients, especially young pregnant patients,” she said.

Hines advises women to look for affordable insurance options that provide them with medical coverage, because living a long and healthy life requires teamwork.

“Please choose a health plan. Make sure your blood pressure is well controlled. Make sure your blood sugar is well controlled. You have to get out there and move. Movement is life. The system is something we can fix, but we have to do our part,” Hines said.