POWER TO DECIDE APPLAUDS THE INTRODUCTION OF THE 2021 EACH ACT

Press release

POWER TO DECIDE APPLAUDS THE INTRODUCTION OF THE 2021 EACH ACT

March 25, 2021

(Washington, D.C.) — Power to Decide applauds Representatives Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) in the House of Representatives and Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill), Patty Murray (D-Wash) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) in the Senate for their sponsorship of the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Act. Today, the members announced the introduction of the bill ensuring coverage for abortion care regardless of where a person lives, how much they earn or how they are insured. 

The EACH Act eliminates bans on public insurance coverage of abortion care and guarantees insurance coverage of abortion for every person. In addition, the bill protects against federal interference with private health insurance companies that choose to offer coverage for abortion care. Specifically, the bill would ensure coverage for abortion care to those enrolled in government health insurance plans and their dependents.

In response, Power to Decide CEO, Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, MD, MPH, issued the following statement:

“Power to Decide is proud to support the EACH Act as an important step toward ensuring all people have access to the full spectrum of reproductive health services regardless of their economic status, region or how they are insured. How much money a person has and where they live should not determine their ability to access abortion care.

“Women with low incomes who depend on public insurance often lack coverage for abortion care because federal Medicaid dollars are prohibited from covering abortion services. Currently, more than seven million women of reproductive age live in states that do not provide coverage for abortion with state funds. More than half of those who lack coverage for abortion care in Medicaid are women of color.

“For almost two decades, I have included abortion services as part of the reproductive care that I provide my patients and I understand the impact of abortion care restrictions on people’s reproductive health and lives. For Black and Brown communities and for people with low incomes who cannot shoulder the added costs of abortion care, these restrictions bring significant and adverse consequences to their health outcomes and ability to live life on their own terms. 

“This is why we are encouraged by the introduction of the EACH Act to help address the inequities in coverage by expanding access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care, including abortion care. We urge Congress to pass this important legislation that will eliminate critical barriers to care and ensure more people have the resources and services they need to make important reproductive health decisions and plan their future.”  

Power to Decide is a private, non-partisan, non-profit organization that works to ensure all people—no matter who they are, where they live or what their economic status might be—have the power to decide if, when and under what circumstances to get pregnant or have a child. Please visit us at www.PowerToDecide.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.