EMILY's List
Women senators work to better women's health care coverage
By Emily on 10/01/2009 @ 11:03 AM
We just love watching our women at work.
Yesterday, four EMILY's List alums -- Senators Amy Klobuchar, Barbara Mikulski, Kay Hagan, and Jeanne Shaheen -- held a press conference focused on impact of health care reform on women. Of course, we already knew that women were central to the health care debate -- and that the women we've helped elect are playing a crucial role in ensuring reform efforts address women's concerns.
Many women face incredible challenges when trying to get coverage, including outrageous claims by some insurers that "pre-existing conditions" should include domestic violence or pregnancies. It's more expensive for women to get health care coverage than men -- so much so that a 22-year-old female stands to be charged up to one and a half times more than the premium for a 22-year-old male. Women also need more frequent contact with their health care providers, due in part to needing more specific care, like mammograms and obstetric care.
Thankfully, our ladies in the Senate are doing something about it. They're working to correct the imbalance between men's and women's health care coverage costs and are working to ensure that women have access to the entire range of reproductive health choices, including expanding insurance coverage of maternity care.
Here are quotes you shouldn't miss:
"When it comes to health insurance, women pay more but get less for our money. We women must end punitive insurance company practices that discriminate against women simply because we are women – practices that say domestic violence or c-sections are pre-existing conditions or that deny coverage for maternity care or basic preventive services and screenings. Just as the women of the Senate fought for equal pay for equal work when we passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, we are fighting for equal health care for equal premiums in health reform."
--Sen. Barbara Mikulski (MD)
"As a former prosecutor I am particularly appalled that in 8 states and the District of Columbia domestic violence is classified as a pre-existing condition. Health care reform must ensure that all women have access to preventative services and maternity care, and that health care that doesn't use 'pre-existing conditions' as a way to deny women care."
--Sen. Amy Klobuchar (MN)
"For too many women and their families today, quality, affordable health care is out of reach. Men and women have very different health care needs, and women are more vulnerable to high costs. We must level the playing field, and pass comprehensive health care reform that makes health care accessible and affordable for all women."
--Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (NH)
"Without health care reform, insurance companies will continue to discriminate against women. Charging women more for coverage and denying comprehensive maternity care are just two of the common insurance company practices. The Senate is working on sending the President a reform bill that ensures women are treated fairly, expands coverage, and provides security and stability to people who have health insurance."
--Sen. Kay Hagan (NC)
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