POWER TO DECIDE HAILS EACH WOMAN ACT
(Washington, D.C.) — Power to Decide applauds the introduction of the EACH Woman Act in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and in the U.S. Senate, led by Sen. Duckworth (D-Ill.) and a group of original co-sponsors including Senators Patty (D-Wash.) Murray, Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.). The bill would ensure coverage for abortion for every woman no matter where she lives, how much she earns or how she is insured. Specifically, the bill eliminates bans on public insurance coverage of abortion. In addition, the bill protects against interference with private health insurance companies that choose to offer coverage for abortion care.
In response, Ginny Ehrlich, CEO, Power to Decide, issued the following statement:
“Power to Decide is proud to support the EACH Woman Act and stands with others committed to ensuring that all women have access to the full spectrum of reproductive health services. Currently, a lack of abortion coverage disproportionately effects women who are low-income, women of color, and women who despite having some coverage cannot shoulder the cost of abortion services without insurance. This bill is a step in the right direction because it addresses the inequities in coverage and access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care, including abortion care. Our commitment is to women and our work is grounded in the belief that women’s unfettered access to the full range of reproductive health services, including abortion, is vital to living life on their own terms.”
Currently, 7.5 million women live in states that do not provide coverage for abortion with state funds. Because federal Medicaid dollars are prohibited from covering abortion, women who are low income and depend on public insurance, lack coverage for abortion care. Fifty-one percent of those who lack public coverage are women of color. Twenty-six states also restrict abortion coverage in private insurance plans sold on the health care marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
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 and have a child. Please visit us at www.PowerToDecide.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
