More women than men say paying for health care is a challenge, according to a survey by the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, a provider of employee and voluntary benefits.

For example, 58% of women were more likely to find paying for health care premiums and out-of-pocket costs a struggle, compared to men (47%).

"As women continue to make strides in the workforce and gain earning parity with men, this may help to lessen the gender discrepancy we see with paying for health care," says Tim Bireley, vice president of group medical at Guardian.  

In the survey, however, women (51%) are more likely, compared to men (42%), to have done some retirement health care planning.

Despite the findings, Bireley believes that the need and opportunity to educate consumers about health care transcends gender.

"We have to make sure that employees are fully absorbing information.  We have to consistently surround the consumers and share information with them at several touch points until they have a solid understanding of their health care benefits, he adds.

Guardian, which surveyed 473 individuals employed either full-time or part-time, also found that two-thirds of workers admit that health care plans, coverage and benefits are difficult to understand.

Moreover, respondents believe that the rising costs of health care, in part, can be contributed to: profits of drug companies (28%), lawsuits against physicians (14%), physician fees and salaries (9%), poor health of the population (10%) and obesity (9%).