Women's health care costs keep soaring.

• Position: Domestic Violence

Females experiencing physical abuse from intimate partners spend 42% more on health care per year than nonabused women, according to a study at Ohio State University, Columbus, and the costs do not end when the abuse does. The study reveals that those who suffered physical abuse five or more years earlier still spend more per year on health care than women who never have been abused. The study is the largest to date to examine health care costs and utilization based on the timing and type of domestic violence that women suffer.

"Along with all the physical and emotional pain it causes, domestic violence also comes with a substantial financial price," underscores Amy Bonomi, associate professor of human development and family science.

Women were surveyed about whether they have experienced any physical or emotional abuse from intimate partners and, if so, when it occurred. Researchers then studied patterns of health care use and costs by the women over an 11-year period.

Those experiencing ongoing physical abuse had the highest health care costs. "It's likely that these women need more health care because they...