Women’s Group on the Trump Administration’s Elimination of the Birth Control Mandate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, October 6, 2017
CONTACT: Yasmina Dardari | yasmina@unbendablemedia.com | 407-922-8149
Women’s Group on the Trump Administration’s Elimination of the Birth Control Mandate
UltraViolet Says Employers, Insurance Companies Must Reject Trump’s Agenda, Commit to Maintaining Coverage in Health Plans
WASHINGTON, DC — Moments ago, the Trump Administration issued new rules rolling back the federal requirement that employers include birth control coverage in their health insurance plans. The decision, which vastly expands exemptions for those employers cite moral or religious objections to providing birth control, will impact the more than 55 million women that have access to birth control without co-payments because of the Obama Administration contraceptive coverage mandate. Under the new rules, hundreds of thousands of women could lose birth control benefits that they now receive at no cost under the Affordable Care Act.
In reaction to the ruling, Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of UltraViolet, a leading women’s advocacy organization, issued the following statement:
“Birth control is a medically necessary resource; it is indispensable for family planning, treating menstrual cramps, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and quite literally saves lives. The Trump Administration’s decision today is yet another attack on American women, including the 99% of American women who have used birth control at some point in their lives — and especially the 54% of Black and 57% of Latina women between the ages of 18-34 who have struggled to afford contraception.
“Now is the time for employers and insurers to pick a side: Do you stand with Donald Trump and his attacks on women, or do you stand with your employees and the women who depend on your coverage? America’s employers and insurers must reject Trump’s cruel agenda and commit to maintaining birth control coverage in their health insurance plans.”
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UltraViolet is an online community of over 1,000,000 people who want to take collective action to expose and fight sexism in the public sector, private sector and the media. Find out more at WeAreUltraViolet.org