CT State Rep Supports Women's Health Legislation

From CT State Rep Office: State Rep. Liz Linehan (D-Cheshire/Southington/Wallingford) spoke at a press conference today in support of legislation she has co-sponsored to protect women’s access to health care, along with Sen. Mae Flexer, Rep. Sean Scanlon and a bipartisan coalition of legislators and activists.

Senate Bill 586, An Act Expanding Mandated Health Benefits for Women, Children and Adolescents, passed out of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee this afternoon and will next go to the Senate. The legislation would ensure health insurers in Connecticut continue to cover preventive women’s health services at no cost to the insuree, regardless of changes to the federal Affordable Care Act.

“The right to reproductive health care means little if women can’t afford the medical services they need,” Rep. Linehan said. “The federal requirements have given many women in Connecticut access to preventive services that were previously out of reach, and we must guarantee that access continues. I would like to thank all the advocates, both women and men, who have come out in strong support of defending women’s health care.”

Under the Affordable Care Act, women do not pay a copay or deductible for contraception, well-woman visits, breast and cervical cancer screenings, and other preventive services. SB 586 will ensure that regardless of what happens to the Affordable Care Act in Washington, the protection of essential health benefits it affords to women will remain law in Connecticut.

SB 586 expands mandated health benefits for women, children and adolescents; expands mandated contraception benefits; and requires the Commissioner of Social Services to amend the Medicaid state plan to provide expanded contraception benefits.

Image Courtesy Of CT State Reps