Flanked by legislators and women's health advocates at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, 836 W. Wellington Ave., Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Monday signed legislation requiring insurance providers that cover prescription drugs to also cover all FDA approved contraceptive drugs and devices.
"For the first time in our state's history, contraceptive prescriptions for women will be paid for by their insurance companies, instead of out of their own pockets. For far too long, when it comes to issues of reproductive health care, women have not received the same treatment as men. For example, under the current law, if a woman chooses to use birth control, she has to pay for it herself. But with men, that's not the case. A man taking Viagra is reimbursed by his health insurer. It's just fundamentally unfair when insurers reimburse men who use Viagra, but deny coverage to women who use birth control. With this new law, that's about to change," Blagojevich said.
House Bill 211, sponsored by state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz and state Sen. Iris Martinez, prohibits insurance companies that already cover prescription drugs and devices from excluding coverage for contraceptives. In addition, the bill requires plans that cover outpatient medical services to also cover contraceptive services such as consultations, examinations and procedures related to pregnancy prevention. The new law does not extend to abortion services.
Women of reproductive age currently spend 68 percent more in out-of-pocket health care costs than men, due in large part to the cost of reproductive health drugs and services. A prescription for an oral contraceptive costs approximately $30 a month, or $360 a year.
Illinois becomes the 20th state to require private insurers to provide contraceptive equity.
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