State of Women’s Coverage

This report assesses coverage of women’s health services by analyzing coverage offered on health insurance Marketplaces by more than 100 insurance companies in 15 states during 2014 and 2015 and found that more than half of the issuers were violating the ACA. The report exposes violations related to maternity care, birth control, breast-feeding support and supplies, genetic testing, well-woman visits, prescription drug coverage, care related to gender transition for transgender individuals, chronic pain treatment, and certain pre-existing conditions. The report also highlights examples of discriminatory practices, such as denying maternity coverage to daughters of subscribers.

Key findings from the women’s coverage report can be found here.

 

State of Birth Control Coverage

This report goes in-depth into coverage of FDA-approved birth control methods and found widespread violations of the ACA’s requirement that all such methods be covered without co-payments or deductibles. The report supplemented its review of plan documents with its own correspondence with insurance companies and with stories of real women gathered through NWLC’s CoverHer hotline, which is dedicated to helping women who are not receiving birth control coverage as required by law.

Key findings from the birth control report can be found here.

 

State of Breastfeeding Coverage

This report goes in-depth into coverage of the ACA’s breastfeeding benefits and found that women face widespread barriers to getting coverage of breastfeeding support and supplies. The report supplemented its review of plan documents with stories of real women gathered through NWLC’s CoverHer hotline, which helps women who hare having trouble getting coverage for breastfeeding benefits as required by law.

Key findings from the breastfeeding report can be found here.

 

 

*Originally published April 28, 2015.