NWLC Urges Conference Committee to End Unjust Health Care Exclusion for Women in the Military

Shaheen amendment would address long-standing inequality for servicewomen, improve access to comprehensive health care

(Washington, D.C.) This week, a congressional conference committee is negotiating changes to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2013. The Senate version of the of NDAA includes an amendment introduced by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) to repeal the ban on health insurance coverage for abortion for military women and dependents who become pregnant as a result of rape or incest; the version passed by the House of Representatives does not.

Currently, servicewomen and military dependents are denied comprehensive health care coverage. Their federal health insurance plan bans coverage of abortion except in cases when continuing a pregnancy endangers a woman’s life. That means that even women who survive rape or incest are forced to pay out-of-pocket for an abortion. This applies to both the wives and daughters of members of our armed services as well as servicewomen themselves.

“The amendment introduced by Senator Shaheen should not be controversial,” said Nancy Duff Campbell, Co-President of the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC). “It would simply provide the same health care coverage currently given to other federal employees. Women in the military put their lives on the line for us every day. Improving their access to comprehensive health care is a matter of basic fairness.”

“Ending the disparity between health care coverage for servicewomen and military dependents and their civilian counterparts is long overdue,” added NWLC Co-President Marcia D. Greenberger. “We urge members of the conference committee to support the Shaheen Amendment, which would correct an unfair and unjust policy and improve the lives and health of women who willingly risk their lives for us.”

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For more information, visit: https://standwithservicewomen.org