House Passes Bill Supporting Birth Control Access for Veterans

(Washington, D.C.) Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act. The bill would ensure that veterans have access to no-copay contraception much like their civilian counterparts. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), most private plans must cover all FDA-approved birth control methods for women without cost-sharing. However, the ACA does not extend to VA care, and veterans covered by the VA must still pay a co-pay for their contraception.

The following is a statement by Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC):

“No one should be forced to pay out of pocket for basic preventive care – and veterans are no exception. Being able to get the birth control you need, free from costly barriers, helps communities be healthy and thrive. Let’s trust people to make decisions that are best for their lives and their bodies, not have decisions dictated by extremists. We thank Rep. Brownley for her leadership and will continue to fight until everyone has access to the birth control they need.”

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