New Bill Would Gut Women's Healthcare Coverage

The Media Cynic reports on the new HIMMAA bill that would allow health insurance companies to drop coverage for several women's health procedures and health needs. The Media Cynic says the bill will override state law protections that require health insurance companies to continue covering women's healthcare items and procedures including annual cervical cancer exams and contraception. The bill also requires women to go to a primary care doctor first and not directly to an ob/gyn. The Cynic explains why passing this bill would be a huge mistake.

The arrogance of these lawmakers is simply breathtaking. Women have fought for years for these protections, such as not being forced to change doctors mid-pregnancy just because her doctor is dropped from her insurance plan. If insurance doesn't cover screenings for routine cervical cancer exams, many women won't have them. Most women use their OB/GYN as their primary doctor, relying her to get the correct care and screenings for everything from cancer to osteoporosis: women will have to go to another gateway doctor first before they can get to their OB/GYN under most insurance plans. And the law is so broadly written that many more procedures won't be required to be covered.

The Senate should not pass this awful and unfair bill.