Women to Receive Preventative Services at No Additional Cost
In a momentous decision to improve women’s access to birth control, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Monday that it will require health insurance plans to cover all government-approved contraceptives for women, without co-payments or other charges.
This decision will require coverage of a full range of contraceptive methods approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Among the drugs and devices that must be covered are emergency contraceptives including pills known as ella and Plan B.
“These historic guidelines are based on science and existing literature and will help ensure women get the preventive health benefits they need,” said Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services.
The requirements will apply to insurance starting on or after August 1, 2012.
The Women of Pennsylvania Have Had Enough! Have You?
In an effort to combat the legislative attacks on women’s reproductive rights in Pennsylvania, the We’ve Had Enough Campaign aims to shine a light upon the state legislature’s deceptive tactics to restrict access to safe, legal abortion care.