Health insurance should encourage heavy use of preventative care, and insure against medical bankruptcies. Pregnancies can go seriously wrong, and most wage earners cannot take an unexpected $75,000 hospital bill, in stride.
As we hold our breath to see how the Court will decide the fate of the ACA, now is a good time to remind ourselves of the importance of health care reform for women living with HIV and affected by HIV.
It is incredibly frustrating that the very women the federal Medicaid law is intended to protect are the ones who are hurt the most, but those sanctions are the only tool HHS has at its disposal to enforce the law.
I would prefer to celebrate the birthday of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by recalling the enormous gains this legislation has made for women. Instead, I wait with baited breath for oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court this week, fearful that the Court’s majority – five conservative male justices – could dismantle the rights we fought so hard to secure.
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The Affordable Care Act is the most ground-breaking piece of legislation passed in our lifetimes to address the kinds of health disparities experienced by people of color. This law will grant access to quality health care to an estimated 32 million people who otherwise would not have been able to afford it–our sisters, our mothers, our primos, and our neighbors.
Women of color experience much higher unintended pregnancy rates than their white counterparts. As a group they also suffer higher rates of chronic diseases, including pregnancy-related conditions, which can be prevented with consistent use of contraceptives. The new regulation guaranteeing access to contraception without a co-pay will help greatly with these and other health issues.
Whether related to the topic of contraception or not, the “Obamacare” contraceptive boogey man serves its function as a multi-purpose political tool in red state debates. In Kansas right now, there are different so-called conscience bills pending across red state America.
For those surprised about the recent fervor over Obama’s contraception coverage decision, a look at its deep roots.
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Religious freedom? Who’s zoomin’ who? As I noted in a piece published last night and now confirmed by further comments from representatives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the far right uterine police are aiming to exclude everyone from contraceptive coverage, not just religious institutions.
Women received a small victory yesterday when the Obama administration announced that most employers will have to provide contraceptives at no cost to their employees. But the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops remain strong and determined to take away your rights.
