Womenstake

Abortion and Health Care Reform: How The House Bill Forces Women to Accept Less Coverage Than They Already Have

by Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights, 
National Women's Law Center 

Last week it seemed that a compromise had been reached between abortion rights supporters and opponents. The compromise was based on the idea that health reform is so important that no one would try to use a single controversial issue as an excuse to bring the whole thing down. So, language was drafted that would sustain the status quo on abortion; no federal funding, but people could still use their own money to buy insurance that would cover them. But just hours before the final vote on the House reform bill, anti-abortion Democrats threatened that unless they got new restrictions on abortion rights they would vote against health reform. Here’s the breakdown:

The compromise: Under the language currently in the Senate Finance Committee’s bill and formerly in the House bill, no federal funding would be used for abortions. Under this provision, called the Capps Amendment, all insurance plans in the exchange would have to keep the money from private premiums and the money from government subsidies separate. Only money from private premiums would be allowed to pay for abortions covered under the plans. This is how current law on abortion works; for example, under Medicaid, federal funds are not allowed to be used for abortions, but some states provide funding by separating their state funds from the federal funds. Republican Senator Collins said that the compromise provision “did a good job of putting up a firewall that would prevent federal funds from being used to finance abortions." Under the compromise, at least one plan in the exchange would cover abortion services and at least one plan would not cover abortions services, giving every American the option of what type of plan she would like to purchase while ensuring that no federal funding would be used to cover abortions.

Abortion in health reform - how did your Representative vote?

by Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights, 
National Women's Law Center 

Over the weekend, men got further than ever in their journey toward affordable, accessible, and comprehensive health care.

Women? Not so much.

Anti-choice Members of Congress rolled back the clock on coverage of abortion services that millions of women currently have.  

Find out how your Representative voted – and tell them we won’t tolerate women’s rights being taken away.

On Saturday, the House of Representatives passed a major health care reform bill, bringing us one step closer to ending higher premiums based on gender, denials by insurance companies for having had a Caesarean section or suffered domestic abuse under the guise that these were “pre-existing conditions,” and other major protections for women.

But anti-choice forces used this major advance to subvert essential reproductive health care for women. An amendment, which passed at the last minute, takes away women's ability to purchase coverage for abortion care with their own funds in the health insurance exchanges and public plan that the legislation created. 

Where did your Representative stand? Find out – and thank those who stood up for women. And tell the others you're deeply disappointed by their votes.

The Senate takes up health care legislation next. We will not rest until women have health care reform that meets their essential needs, including their reproductive health care needs.

A Major Advancement in Health Care Reform - Next Step Must Meet Women's Reproductive Health Care Needs

Last night, the House voted 220 to 215 to pass the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R.3962).

The following is a statement by Marcia D. Greenberger, Co-President of the National Women's Law Center (NWLC):

"NWLC is both gratified that the House passed this vitally important reform for women and their families, and outraged that anti-choice forces would use this major advance to subvert essential health care for women by taking away women's ability to purchase coverage for abortion care with their own funds in the health insurance exchanges.

"The NWLC will not rest until women have health care reform that meets their essential needs, including their reproductive health care needs. The Center calls on the Administration and the leadership in the House and the Senate to secure that result in the Senate and in Conference. Any other outcome is both dangerous to women's health and unacceptable."

Vote Coming Soon - Reproductive Health at Risk in Health Reform

by Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights, 
National Women's Law Center 

At this very moment, women’s health care coverage hangs in the balance. Anti-choice Members of Congress are trying to include language in health care reform that will take away insurance coverage for abortion that millions of women currently have.

There is no time to delay. Contact your Representatives. Tell them not to let the anti-choice Members of Congress take away vital reproductive health services. 

Anti-choice Members are trying to use health care reform as a vehicle to advance their agenda. We must not let this happen — because comprehensive reproductive health care is basic health care for women.

With your help, we could make history with health care reform that works for women and their families: no more higher premiums based on gender. No more insurance denials if you’ve had a Caesarean section or suffered domestic abuse. No more treating women like a pre-existing condition. The House bill has these important protections.

But we need you to help prevent Congress from negotiating women's abortion coverage away. Your actions will make a difference.  

Elizabeth Banks Speaks Out for Health Reform That Works for Women

by Robin Reed, Online Outreach Manager, 
National Women's Law Center 

Yesterday, actress Elizabeth Banks (star of Role Models and The 40-Year-Old Virgin) joined NWLC Co-President Marcia Greenberger (left) at an event supporting our Being a Woman Is Not a Pre-Existing Condition campaign in Los Angeles.

More photos from the event are up on Zimbio, Access Hollywood, and other sites. 

To get your own "A Woman Is Not a Pre-Existing Condition" T-shirt, visit our site. 

Photo by Mark Sullivan/Getty Images North America

Boehner Substitute Still Treats Women Like a Pre-existing Condition

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Oh) released last night his substitute amendment to the House health care reform legislation. The statement of Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights at the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), follows:

“Representative Boehner’s health care substitute does not address many of the problems that exist today in our broken health care system. Worse still, it takes us backwards in the effort to provide accessible, affordable and comprehensive health care. This is a proposal that insurance company executives should love.

“Under this proposal, being a woman is still a pre-existing condition. This substitute does not give any protections against the discriminatory practices of basing insurance premiums on gender. Most women will continue to be charged more than men for the exact same coverage in the individual market and many companies will be charged more for their women employees. Additionally, women may still be denied coverage based on their status as a domestic violence or sexual assault survivor or having had a C-section. This proposed plan leaves them no better off than they are today.

“The plan takes our health care system in the wrong direction. For example, the legislation’s provision to allow individuals to shop for health insurance across state lines may seem innocuous, but don’t be fooled. State insurance regulations provide critical consumer protections and require that important health services are covered –- helping ensure that women receive coverage that meets their health care needs. Expanding access to health savings accounts could result in women buying insurance that has lower premiums, but may leave them with insufficient coverage –- at great risk to their health and financial security. And, the plan uses this historic debate to advance one of the long-standing goals of the anti-choice movement –- to prevent any insurance plan that receives even one dollar of federal funding, now or in the future, from including coverage of abortion care for women.

“Women’s well-being—and that of their families—depends on health reform that meets their needs. In short, Boehner’s proposed substitute is the wrong prescription for what ails our system. It fails to make the grade when it comes to improving access to comprehensive, quality, affordable health care for women and their families.”

State Efforts to Eliminate Health Insurance Discrimination Against Domestic Violence Survivors

by Amanda Stone, Fellow, 
National Women's Law Center 

Imagine this: you are in a relationship with a partner who takes out his or her aggression on you. Everyday, you must walk on eggshells to try to avoid conflict with your partner and the sometimes physical assaults that follow. Now imagine that you gather the strength to leave your abusive relationship. You seek a divorce. As a result, you will no longer be covered on your partner’s health insurance. “No problem,” you think. “I will get my own insurance and start my life over.” And then you realize that your state or jurisdiction does not prevent insurance companies from denying you a new policy based on your status as a domestic violence survivor. You may be denied health insurance based on the past assaults you faced at the hands of your partner. You are re-victimized. Is this a problem? Yes. In a handful of states and in the District of Columbia, there are no laws on the books to explicitly prevent insurance companies from denying individuals insurance policies or reimbursement for specific services based on their status as a victim or survivor of domestic violence.

However, there is some good news! Five of the 8 jurisdictions that do not explicitly prohibit health insurance discrimination based on domestic violence have made efforts to address this problem: 

• In October 2009, the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking issued a bulletin warning insurers not to use domestic violence as a factor when issuing health insurance policies.
• In September 2009, Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chancy called upon the state legislature to take action banning discrimination against survivors of domestic violence.

Scenes from Today's Vigil - Women's Day of Action for Health Care Reform

by Robin Reed, Online Outreach Manager, 
National Women's Law Center 

Today, we're braving the chill in Dupont Circle here in Washington, D.C., for our vigil for the Women's Day of Action for Health Care Reform. From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., we're reading health care stories from women and families from across the country.

If you're in town, we hope you'll stop by! If not, we're glad to have you with us in spirit -- and please remember to call Congress to demand health care reform now!

Here are some scenes from the vigil so far: 

Women Blog for Health Care 2009 - The Posts

by Robin Reed, Online Outreach Manager, 
National Women's Law Center 

Below are the posts blogging on women and health care reform for the Nov. 4 Women's Day of Action. If your post isn't listed here, please send it to us and we'll add it. 

Also, remember to watch the #whc hashtag on Twitter too to see tweets on women and health care.

• AAUW Dialog - Christy Jones
• AAUW Dialog - Danine Spencer
• AAUW Dialog - Kathryn Montiegel
• AAUW Dialog - Lecia Imbrey
• Above Average Jane
• Angry Black Bitch
• The Brodsky Blog
• California NOW
• Common Dreams
• Criss writes
• Danine Spencer
• Fem 2.0
• Feminist Peace Network
• Gloria Feldt
• Gretchen's View of the World
• Health Care for America Now
• Hello Ladies
• New Health Dialogue Blog
• Pathways PA Policy Blog
• Ph.D. in Parenting
• PunditMom
• Reproductive Rights Prof Blog
• RH Reality Check
• Salon Broadsheet
• Spare Candy
• The State of Georgia's Women...
• The Undomestic Goddess
• Young Women Misbehavin'

And click here to call Congress and demand health care reform that works for women!

Thanks to everyone participating in the Women's Day of Action for Health Care Reform!

Make the Call for Health Care Reform

by Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights, 
National Women's Law Center 

We’re making most of the health care decisions at home. So why aren’t we making them in Washington, D.C.? 

It’s time for YOU to the make the call.

Today, women across America are shaking things up and making sure their voices ring throughout the halls of the Capitol, as part of the National Women’s Day of Action for Health Care Reform. 

• No longer will we accept being charged more than men for the same health coverage.
• No longer will we allow sexual assault and domestic violence survivors to be denied coverage. 
• No longer will we accept skimpy health coverage that doesn’t meet our needs.
• No longer will we accept unaffordable health care.

What you do today could mean the difference between keeping a broken health system that treats women like a pre-existing condition, and health care reform that will mean affordable, accessible, and comprehensive health care for all.  

But no pressure – we’ve got your back. 

We’ve made it easier than ever to call your Members of Congress. Simply click through to our easy-to-follow phone script and get automatically connected to your Representative’s office.

Members of the House will be voting on their health reform bill soon. So if you’ve never called Congress before about health reform, it’s never been more important. If you’ve called before, we need you to call again! Call Congress today and tell them the time is now to pass health reform that works for women!