Health Care Reform

The Affordable Care Act provides vitally important advances for the health of women and their families. As the law is implemented on the state and federal levels, and as more Americans gain access to health insurance, we’re working to ensure that new health care law benefits women as part of our effort to improve women’s health.

Highlights

Fact Sheet | NWLC Letter to Secretary Sebelius: Essential Health Benefits Bulletin, Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight

February 2, 2012

On December 16, 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a bulletin outlining their plans to implement the Essential Health Benefits provision of the Affordable Care Act.

Fact Sheet | State Bans on Insurance Coverage of Abortion Are Sweeping the Nation, Endangering Women’s Health and Taking Health Benefits Away from Women

January 24, 2012

During the health care reform debates in Congress, insurance coverage of abortion came under unprecedented attack. Fortunately, attempts at the federal level to effectively ban insurance coverage of abortion in private plans failed. However, the new health care law explicitly allows states to pass laws banning private insurance coverage of abortion in any exchange set up in their state. Unfortunately, states have wasted no time taking up this opportunity to attack women’s health.

Webinars & Presentations | 2012 Reform Matters Conference Call Agendas

January 11, 2012

This resource links to all of the Reform Matters agendas for the year 2012.

Fact Sheet | Letter to HHS Secretary on the Development of the Essential Health Benefit Package

December 5, 2011

A variety of consumer groups came together to lay out the principles they believe should guide the development of the Essential Health Benefit package. In the letter, we ask the Secretary to ensure the creation of a benefit package that addresses the insufficient coverage currently sold in the individual and small group markets and that covers the physical, mental, and behavioral health care services that people need to get and stay as healthy and functional as possible.

More Resources

Webinars & Presentations | 2012 Reform Matters Conference Call Agendas

January 11, 2012

This resource links to all of the Reform Matters agendas for the year 2012.

| Health Care Law Litigation

November 01, 2011

Opponents of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have brought various lawsuits claiming that Congress lacked authority to pass the ACA but it is well-settled that the Commerce Clause of the Constitution allows Congress to make laws addressing national economic problems. The ACA addresses a national breakdown in the health insurance market that has resulted in widespread denials of coverage, limited access to health care, and increased health care costs. By addressing the economic impacts of the discrimination that women face in the health insurance market, it also falls within a long tradition of civil rights laws falling well within Congress’s authority under the Commerce Clause.

Webinars & Presentations | 2011 Reform Matters Conference Call Agendas

February 09, 2011

This resouce links to each month's Reform Matters conference call agendas.

Fact Sheet | NWLC Letter to Secretary Sebelius: Essential Health Benefits Bulletin, Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight

February 02, 2012

On December 16, 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a bulletin outlining their plans to implement the Essential Health Benefits provision of the Affordable Care Act.