|
Blagojevich approves key advance
in women's health
Send a link to a friend
[JULY 9, 2003]
CHICAGO -- Flanked by
legislators and women's health advocates at Chicago's Advocate
Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed
legislation on Monday marking a major step forward for women's
health in Illinois. The new law requires insurance providers that
cover prescription drugs to also cover all FDA-approved
contraceptive drugs and devices.
|
|
"For the first time
in our state's history, contraceptive prescriptions for women will
be paid for by their insurance companies, instead of out of their
own pockets," Blagojevich said. "For far too long, when it comes to
issues of reproductive health care, women have not received the same
treatment as men. For example, under the current law, if a woman
chooses to use birth control, she has to pay for it herself. But
with men, that's not the case. A man taking Viagra is reimbursed by
his health insurer. It's just fundamentally unfair when insurers
reimburse men who use Viagra but deny coverage to women who use
birth control. With this new law, that's about to change."
House Bill 211,
sponsored by state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, and state Sen.
Iris Martinez, D-Chicago, prohibits insurance companies that already
cover prescription drugs and devices from excluding coverage for
contraceptives. In addition, the bill requires plans that cover
outpatient medical services to also cover contraceptive services
such as consultations, examinations and procedures related to
pregnancy prevention. The new law does not extend to abortion
services.
"Contraceptive
coverage is a matter of basic fairness," Feigenholtz said. "Women
pay significantly more for health care than men. But today we're
taking an important step to ending this inequity."
[to top of second
column in this article]
 |
Women of reproductive
age currently spend 68 percent more in out-of-pocket health care
costs than men, due in large part to the cost of reproductive health
drugs and services. A prescription for an oral contraceptive costs
approximately $30 a month, or $360 a year.
In contrast,
employers can save money by providing contraceptive coverage and
avoiding high costs associated with unplanned pregnancies. A study
conducted by the Washington Business Group on Health showed that not
providing coverage for contraceptives can cost employers 15 percent
to 17 percent more than providing coverage.
"Contraceptives have
a proven track record of enhancing women's health, preventing
unintended pregnancies and protecting against conditions like pelvic
inflammation disease and osteoporosis," Martinez pointed out.
Illinois becomes the
20th state to require private insurers to provide contraceptive
equity.
"Finally, women in Illinois will be able
to afford to make responsible family-planning decisions. We're
grateful to Governor Blagojevich for signing this long-overdue
measure into law and to the legislators who have worked so hard to
send the measure to the governor's desk," said Pam Sutherland,
president and CEO of Illinois Planned Parenthood Council.
[News release]
 |
