Health insurance; health care plan that includes contraception coverage, etc. (HB18)

Introduced By

Del. Bob Marshall (R-Manassas)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Health insurance; contraception coverage. Provides that each insurer issuing individual or group accident and sickness insurance policies, corporation providing individual or group accident or sickness subscription contracts, or health maintenance organization providing a health care plan for health care services that offers a policy, contract, or plan that includes coverage for contraception methods, sterilization procedures, or abortifacient drugs or devices shall be required to offer a policy, contract, or plan identical in all respects except that no such coverage is included. The bill also provides that any employer who provides for health and medical care or reimbursement of medical expenses for his employees as a self-insurer is not required to include coverage for contraception methods, sterilization procedures, or abortifacient drugs or devices. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
11/21/2013Committee
11/21/2013Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/14 14100714D
11/21/2013Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
01/28/2014Impact statement from DPB (HB18)
02/12/2014Left in Commerce and Labor

Comments

ACLU-VA Women's Rights and Reproductive Freedom, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

The ACLU of Virginia opposes this bill. HB18, and its companion bills HB19 and HB20, intend to restrict access to birth control if the Supreme Court overturns the federal rule that requires new health insurance plans to cover birth control at no extra out-of-pocket cost. If the federal rule is overturned by the Supreme Court, and these bills pass, Virginia will be poised to restrict birth control coverage and other reproductive health services. The bills would limit private health insurance companies’ ability to cover birth control, thus allowing employers to decide your health care plan. Birth control coverage is a breakthrough for women’s health and women seeking access to basic health services should not face discrimination. Private decision making about birth control should be left to a woman, her doctor, and her faith, not her boss or a politician. Religious liberty means the right to hold and preach your beliefs, but not to impose them on others.

Anna Pecora writes:

Insurance companies should be required to offer contraception methods, sterilization procedures, or abortifacient drugs or devices for women. By excluding these you will be segregating the female community, taking away their rights that they should inherently have over their own bodies health (both physically and mentally) and safety. This is an outrage will only push women further away from the Republican party. And this is coming from a Democrat.

Chris Payton writes:

Del. Bob Marshall and Sen. John Edwards will debate the merits of this bill on Tuesday, February 25 from 7-8:30 PM at Virginia Commonwealth University: Academic Learning Center - 1000 Floyd Ave., Room 1107.

Sponsored by the VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs; Historic Polegreen Church Foundation; and the First Freedom Center.

Free and open to the public. Call 804-730-3837 for more information.