|
|
|
Fast Facts
Contraceptive Equity
Why is insurance coverage for contraception important to women's health? |
Laws promoting insurance coverage for contraception are crucial to protecting and promoting women's reproductive health. By guaranteeing that insurers cover prescription contraception to the same extent as other medications, contraceptive-equity laws help ensure women's access to birth control and ultimately help prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce the need for abortion. |
CURRENT STATE LAWS27 states have passed comprehensive laws or regulations ensuring equity in private insurance coverage for prescription contraception: AZ, AR, CA, CT, DE, GA, HI, IL, IA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OR, RI, VT, WA, WV, WI. |
CURRENT FEDERAL LAWSCurrent law guarantees that Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) plans cover prescription contraception to the same extent as other prescription medications. |
2009 ENACTED STATE LEGISLATION1 state enacted 1 measure that would require all state insurance plans that cover prescription medication to include coverage for prescription contraceptives: WI. |
2009 FEDERAL ACTIONPro-choice lawmakers sponsored the Prevention First Act to ensure that prescription contraceptives are covered equally with other prescription drugs and related medical services. This bill is the cornerstone of the pro-choice Prevention First agenda which aims to prevent unintended pregnancies, and therefore, reduce the need for abortion. |
2009 NOTABLE DEVELOPMENTS
In 2009, Wisconsin approved a provision in the state budget that explicitly requires all insurance plans that cover prescription medication to include equitable coverage for contraception. Wisconsin's new contraceptive-equity law is in addition to a 2004 ruling by the state Equal Rights Division that an employer's failure to cover contraceptives constitutes sex discrimination in violation of the Fair Labor Employment Act.
|
| For a map of all states with Contraceptive Equity - click here. | | |
|
