HHS Decision On Contraceptive Coverage An Important Milestone

HHS reaffirms contraceptive coverage without co-pays and leaves religious employer exemption in place

(Washington, D.C.) The National Women’s Law Center responded today to the announcement that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) guidelines on health insurance coverage of contraception would be made final.

A key provision of the Affordable Care Act is the guarantee that all new insurance plans will cover preventive services, as identified by HHS, with no co-pay. HHS stood by its interim decision last summer and today announced it would issue a final rule requiring that women receive the full spectrum of FDA-approved contraceptives without co-pays, and also retained an exemption for certain religious employers.

The following statement is from Marcia D. Greenberger, Co-President of the National Women’s Law Center:

“The final decision by HHS to guarantee women coverage of contraception with no co-pay is a major milestone in protecting women’s health. Contraception is critical preventive health care and its use among women of child-bearing age is nearly universal. The coverage of contraception without co-pays is especially important because studies show that even moderate co-payments can cause some low- and moderate-income women to forgo this care.

“We applaud this step forward for women’s health, and will work to ensure that all women, regardless of their employer, will receive this needed health care.”

For more information, visit: http://www.nwlc.org/contraceptive-coverage

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