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ABORTION BAN

CONTRACEPTIVE COVERAGE INSURANCE:
It’s the law in Illinois!

MIFEPRISTONE REVIEW & SUSPENSION LEGISLATION
(H.R. 3453, S. 1930)

On November 5, President Bush signed the so-called "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003," the first bill to criminalize a safe medical practice in U.S. history.

Three federal trials to challenge the constitutionality of the first bill to criminalize a safe medical practice in U.S. history are still scheduled to begin on March 29, 2004. Planned Parenthood Federation of America filed a lawsuit (PPFA v. Ashcroft) in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco. In the meantime, temporary restraining orders were issued to prevent the law from immediately going into effect. This means that doctors in Planned Parenthood and other health centers around the country can continue to perform necessary medical procedures without the threat of legal action.

The U.S. Supreme Court has previously judged such legislation unconstitutional. In Stenberg v. Carhart (June 2000), the high court found a similar abortion ban unconstitutional because it lacked a health exception and its intentionally broad language imposed an “undue burden” on a woman’s right to choose abortion. This type of legislation prevents women, in consultation with their families and their doctors, from making decisions about the best way to protect their health and lives.

For up-to-date information on this dangerous ban and the lawsuit to block its implementation, we encourage you to keep an eye on the special web page developed around this issue at www.protectwomenshealth.org.

It requires health insurance plans already covering prescription drugs and devices to also cover prescription contraceptive drugs and devices -- including the pill, Depo Provera (the shot), Lunelle, diaphragm, IUD, the ring, the patch, and emergency contraception (EC). The covered contraceptive drugs and devices must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The law also requires plans covering outpatient medical services to include equal coverage for outpatient contraceptive services. So, the annual doctor visit to get a pill prescription or the visit for an injection of Depo Provera is also covered.

The law becomes effective on January 1, 2004. However, the law is triggered when a health insurance plan is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after January 1. So, if your health insurance plan isn’t renewed until July, the requirement for contraceptive coverage won’t go into effect until July.

What should I do if my employer’s health plan doesn’t provide contraceptive coverage?

Find out if your company’s health insurance plan has been renewed yet. It may be that the new law has not been triggered yet for your plan.

Find out if your company is self-insured under the federal ERISA rules.

Find out if the insurance company providing the health plan is religiously affiliated.

Contact the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council for help in dealing with your employer: 217-522-6776 ext. 23 or ippc@plannedparenthoodcouncil.org.

This bill is currently in committee and will most likely remain there until Congress resumes in full session in January.

ABORTION BAN	CONTRACEPTIVE COVERAGE INSURANCE: It’s the law in Illinois!	MIFEPRISTONE REVIEW & SUSPENSION LEGISLATION (H.R. 3453, S. 1930)
On November 5, President Bush signed the so-called "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003," the first bill to criminalize a safe medical practice in U.S. history. Three federal trials to challenge the constitutionality of the first bill to criminalize a safe medical practice in U.S. history are still scheduled to begin on March 29, 2004. Planned Parenthood Federation of America filed a lawsuit (PPFA v. Ashcroft) in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco. In the meantime, temporary restraining orders were issued to prevent the law from immediately going into effect. This means that doctors in Planned Parenthood and other health centers around the country can continue to perform necessary medical procedures without the threat of legal action. The U.S. Supreme Court has previously judged such legislation unconstitutional. In Stenberg v. Carhart (June 2000), the high court found a similar abortion ban unconstitutional because it lacked a health exception and its intentionally broad language imposed an “undue burden” on a woman’s right to choose abortion. This type of legislation prevents women, in consultation with their families and their doctors, from making decisions about the best way to protect their health and lives. For up-to-date information on this dangerous ban and the lawsuit to block its implementation, we encourage you to keep an eye on the special web page developed around this issue at www.protectwomenshealth.org.	It requires health insurance plans already covering prescription drugs and devices to also cover prescription contraceptive drugs and devices -- including the pill, Depo Provera (the shot), Lunelle, diaphragm, IUD, the ring, the patch, and emergency contraception (EC). The covered contraceptive drugs and devices must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The law also requires plans covering outpatient medical services to include equal coverage for outpatient contraceptive services. So, the annual doctor visit to get a pill prescription or the visit for an injection of Depo Provera is also covered. The law becomes effective on January 1, 2004. However, the law is triggered when a health insurance plan is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after January 1. So, if your health insurance plan isn’t renewed until July, the requirement for contraceptive coverage won’t go into effect until July. What should I do if my employer’s health plan doesn’t provide contraceptive coverage? Find out if your company’s health insurance plan has been renewed yet. It may be that the new law has not been triggered yet for your plan. Find out if your company is self-insured under the federal ERISA rules. Find out if the insurance company providing the health plan is religiously affiliated. Contact the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council for help in dealing with your employer: 217-522-6776 ext. 23 or ippc@plannedparenthoodcouncil.org.	This bill is currently in committee and will most likely remain there until Congress resumes in full session in January.

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