|
Fast Facts
Insurance Coverage for Contraception
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 drugs, 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. |
2007 STATE LEGISLATION9 states considered 13 measures that would ensure equity in private insurance coverage for prescription contraception: KY, MI, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, TX, UT.
|
2007 FEDERAL LEGISLATIONPro-choice lawmakers sponsored legislation to ensure equity in insurance coverage for prescription contraceptives and related medical services. |
2007 NOTABLE CASES
In a setback for equality in prescription coverage, in In re: Standridge v. Union Pac. R.R. Co., the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals held that denying coverage for contraceptives did not discriminate against female employees in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, reasoning that Union Pacific did not offer benefits for contraceptives to either women or men, and that since contraception is used before pregnancy, it does not qualify as a pregnancy-related condition. The health plan at issue provided coverage for a variety of prescription drugs, including drugs to treat male erectile dysfunction, but excluded all six methods of prescription contraception. This decision is binding on states in the Eighth Circuit only—Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
|
| For a map of all states with Insurance Coverage for Contraception - click here. | |
