West Virginia House Approves Bill That Would Require Health Plans To Provide Contraceptive Coverage

Main Category: Fertility
Article Date: 04 Apr 2005 - 0:00 PDT


The West Virginia House on Wednesday approved 86-12 a bill... (HB 3138) that would require health insurance plans that provide prescription drug coverage to cover prescription contraceptives and contraceptive devices for women and their adult dependants, the AP/Hagerstown Herald-Mail reports (AP/Hagerstown Herald-Mail, 3/31). The measure contains a waiver that would allow religious organizations that object to contraceptives to request a health insurance plan that does not include contraceptive coverage, according to the Charleston Gazette (Searls, Charleston Gazette, 3/31). However, all health plans would be required to cover contraceptives if prescribed for a noncontraceptive purpose, and employers that invoke the exemption would be required to inform prospective enrollees of the lack of contraceptive coverage prior to enrollment in the plan (HB 3138 text, 3/31). The state House on Tuesday rejected 67-31 an amendment sponsored by Del. Patrick Lane (R) that would have allowed businesses with fewer than 50 employees to be exempt from the contraceptive coverage requirement (Searls, Charleston Gazette, 3/30).

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/repro The Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

• Additional
• References
• Citations