Birth control on Oregon health plans
PORTLAND – As of Tuesday, health insurance plans that cover prescription drugs in Oregon must cover birth control.
Nancy Bennett, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of the Columbia/Willamette, said her organization has fought for it since 1993.
“We were pushing for it because we believe women should have access to birth control. It’s just basic health care for women,” Bennett said. “Women are paying way more out of pocket for their health care than they should be.”
Bennett said about half of the states have similar requirements.
The law could affect about 1.4 million Oregonians covered by private insurance. Public employees and poor people under the Oregon Health Plan already are covered.
The law, one of several health-related bills passed by the last Legislature, also requires hospitals to offer emergency contraceptives to women who seek care in a hospital after a sexual assault.
Other laws include expansion of chemotherapy treatment options, a requirement for employers to accommodate mothers who want to breast feed their children at work and requiring coverage of alcohol- and drug-related injuries and illness on the same basis as other injuries and illnesses.
Jenny Hawkins found that her health insurance covered a cosmetic skin whitener to cover up sun damage, but it reminded the 32-year-old of what it didn’t cover: contraception.
“The only prescription I do use is not covered,” Hawkins said.
That changed Tuesday.
Hawkins, who testified in favor of the contraception bill during a legislative hearing in Salem, said she will save about $600 a year.
The bill was a priority for Democrats, who controlled both chambers of the Oregon Legislature in 2007 for the first time in nearly two decades. The health insurance industry did not actively fight the bill.
Hawkins admitted she was uncomfortable testifying about such a personal matter.
“Maybe it’s because people are apprehensive about speaking about it in public that such a ridiculous state of events has persisted for so long,” she said.
Hawkins cited the example of a friend who was prescribed contraception – not for birth control, but to help her cope with debilitating cramps.
“It wasn’t covered because it happened to be a contraceptive also,” she said.