On March 1, Pennsylvania State Senator Connie Williams (D-17) reintroduced the Prescription Contraception Equity Act
(SB 474), legislation that would require health insurance plans to cover contraception if they cover other prescription drugs.
Many health insurance plans do not currently cover prescription contraceptives, forcing women of childbearing age to spend 68% more than men on out-of-pocket health care costs.
Research shows that contraceptive coverage improves women's health and well-being, and saves money! Contraception helps prevent unintended pregnancy and reduces the need for abortion.
As of 2004, 21 states had laws requiring health insurance plans to cover contraception -it's time for Pennsylvania to support contraceptive equity as well!
Last year three similar bills were introduced in Pennsylvania, but not one was even brought up in committee for a vote. This session, however, SB 474 was referred to the Committee on Banking and Insurance, and a similar House bill (HB 1228) was reintroduced by State Representative Daylin Leach (D-149) and referred to the Insurance Committee.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Send a message to your State Senator and State Representative! Tell your legislators that women in Pennsylvania deserve better, and ask them to contact Sen. Gibson Armstrong (R-13), Chair of the Banking and Insurance Committee, and Rep. Nicholas Micozzie (R-163), Chair of the Insurance Committee, in support of SB 474 and HB 1228!Only committee chairs have the power to bring these bills up for a vote and move them to the House and Senate floors for full consideration!
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Senate Banking and Insurance Committee
Armstrong, Gibson (R-13) Chair
Conti, Joe (R-10) Vice Chair
Boscola, Lisa (D-18)
Corman, Jake (R-34)
Greenleaf, Stewart (R-12)
Mellow, Robert(D-22)
Robbins, Robert (R-50)
Scarnati, Joseph (R-25)
Stack, Michael (D-5) Minority Chair
Tartaglione, Christine (D-2)
Wenger, Noah (R-36)
White, Donald (R-41)
Williams, Anthony (D-8)
House Insurance Committee
Micozzie, Nicholas (R-163) Chair
Wright, Matthew (R-142) Vice Chair
Baldwin, Roy (R-97)
Bebko-Jones, Linda (D-1)
Buxton, Ronald (D-103)
DeLuca, Anthony (D-32) Minority Chair
Eachus, Todd (D-116)
Evans, John (R-5)
Fichter, John (R-70)
Fleagle, Patrick Elvin (R-90)
Frankel, Dan (D-23) Minority Vice Chair
Gannon, Thomas (R-161)
Godshall, Robert (R-53)
Goodman, Neal (D-123)
Hennessey, Tim (R-26)
Killion, Tom (R-168)
Manderino, Kathy (D-194)
Melio, Anthony (D-141)
Mundy, Phyllis (D-120)
McGill, Eugene (R-151)
Nickol, Steven (R-193)
Pickett, Tina (R-110)
Sather, Larry (R-81)
Schroder, Curt (R-155)
Tangretti, Thomas (D-57)
Walko, Don (D-20)
Wojnaroski, Edward (D-71)
Zug, Peter (R-102)
