WILLIAMS RALLIES FOR CONTRACEPTIVE EQUITY

Harrisburg, April 29, 2003 – State Senator Connie Williams (D-Montgomery/Delaware) today led a rally for Contraceptive Equity in the State Capitol Rotunda where she discussed her plan to re-introduce legislation that would close a gap in Pennsylvania’s health insurance coverage for women’s prescription contraception.

“Reproductive health services are essential to the health and well-being of women and families,” Williams said.

“My legislation would prevent any health insurance policy from excluding coverage for FDA-approved contraception, as well as medical and counseling services to properly use the contraception if the policy offers prescription coverage.” 

Williams said that Pennsylvania is one of the “least women-friendly states” citing a recent survey conducted by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research which ranked Pennsylvania 45th in the nation after measuring various factors regarding the status of women.

“Each year, more than 3 million women face an unintended pregnancy, representing nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States,” Williams said.

“Contraception reduces rates of unintended pregnancy, improves women’s health and well-being, reduces infant morbidity and mortality, and reduces the need for abortion.”

Williams argued that the cost of maternal and newborn care alone costs more than $8,600 per birth, while an entire year of birth control pills costs between $350 and $422.

“Health insurance policies that fail to cover prescription contraception and related medical and counseling services discriminate against women and place effective forms of contraception beyond the financial reach of many families,” Williams said.

“And women of reproductive age spend 68% more than men for out-of-pocket health care costs.”

At least 20 states have enacted laws to address the inequity in prescription coverage caused by exclusion of contraceptives.

“Women in this Commonwealth deserve equitable prescription contraceptive coverage,” Williams said. 

“The needs of women and families are a priority and inequities in prescription coverage should not be tolerated.”