No Co-Pay Birth Control a Reality -- But What About Uninsured Women?

Last month, we asked you to take action for no co-pay birth control coverage, as part of a National Women's Law Center and Planned Parenthood blog carnival putting pressure on Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Now, we can announce that these efforts from Change.org members and across the blogosphere have paid off: yesterday, HHS made the long-awaited and very welcome announcement that birth control will now be entirely covered for women with insurance.

This victory was won by pressure from many organizations and individuals across the country, including petitions on Change.org from CREDO Action and member Augusta Christensen, with thousands pressuring Secretary Sebelius to protect women's health. This change will significantly increase women's contraceptive access and ability to prevent unplanned pregnancy. Even better, not only is contraception fully covered, other women's preventative health services and breastfeeding expenses are now co-pay free as well.

Unfortunately, not all women will reap the benefits of this decision. In fact, for uninsured women who already struggle the most with access to contraception and health services, it doesn't do them much good at all.

These women rely primarily on support from organizations like Planned Parenthood, which provide subsidized or free women's health services -- like STD testing and breast cancer screenings -- and birth control. And how are things looking for these vital women's health providers? In many states, not so great.

Take New Hampshire, where the all-male Executive Council decided to strip away Planned Parenthood funding, with Councilor Raymond Wieczorek stating, "I am opposed to providing condoms to someone. If you want to have a party, have a party, but don’t ask me to pay for it."

The good news: people are fighting back. NH resident Kate Hignett started a a Change.org petition signed by hundreds of fellow residents calling on the council to reinstate funding. Hignett personally benefited from Planned Parenthood when she was starting her (now successful) dance studio and unable to even pay for insurance -- it made affordable check-ups, blood tests, and contraceptives available to her. "I am so grateful that Planned Parenthood was there for me when I needed it,” Hignett said. “When I think of the alternatives -- what would I have done?"

So while celebrating the no-copay for birth control win, keep in mind that this represents but one battle. Check out the situation for women's health in your state, and if something needs to be changed, start your own petition.

Photo credit: S.MiRK