American women do not live as long as women in other high-income countries. The life expectancy of American women of color is even lower.

Current federal data explains why. Researchers examine what the numbers mean and what we can do about it.

“The problem is access,” says Dr. La Tanya Hines, women’s health specialist at 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 with 87 in Japan and South Korea and 85 in Sweden and Australia.

“More than 14 percent of women in this country, regardless of background, don’t have access to health care,” Hines said. “That means they’re not going to their primary care doctor. If you have a problem, that means you may be going to the emergency room more often for less acute problems, but you’re not necessarily getting what you need.”

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,” Hines said. “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.

In general, women with dark skin face greater 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 huge inequalities,” 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,” Hines said.

She 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,” Hines said. “Keep your blood pressure under control. Keep your blood sugar under control. 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.”