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Prior to the passage of the ACA, insurance companies were allowed to discriminate against women due to our unique health needs. Insurers could deny coverage to women if they had been pregnant, had fought and survived cancer, or even if they had suffered domestic violence. In many cases, health plans didn’t even cover maternity care.
If the ACA is overturned, then women could be denied coverage based on their medical history, their age, and their occupation, among other factors. As a result, women could be charged more, or priced out of the insurance market altogether. Insurance companies could also try to reinstate gender rating, a common pre-ACA practice in which insurance companies charged women higher premiums than they did men, even though other parts of the ACA protect women from discrimination in the health care system. The gravity of what the loss of coverage for women and girls would look like, should ACA be repealed, makes it paramount that we speak out against our state legislature supporting anything that could lead to reduced coverage. That's why this week, we weighed in on a GOP authored bill - Assembly Bill 1 - that claims to addresses coverage of preexisting medical conditions in our state. It's important to note that under the direction of former Governor Scott Walker, Wisconsin joined this multi-state lawsuit to overturn the ACA. In December, a Texas District Court judge held that the ACA is unconstitutional in Texas v. Azar. As this case makes its way through the appeals process, the ACA remains the law of the land. Despite Wisconsin’s voters speaking out loud and clear in November by electing state-wide officials who campaigned on a promise to withdraw Wisconsin from the ACA lawsuit, the Republican-led Legislature rejected the outcome of the November elections and voted to force the state to remain as plaintiffs in Texas v. Azar, threatening coverage for many Wisconsinites. And with recent actions and actions taken over the past eight years to sabotage the ACA while the GOP has held a super majority in our state, now the Republican controlled legislature is attempting to show interest in protecting coverage for Wisconsinites. Unfortunately, their proposal, AB1, does not guarantee insurance for people with preexisting conditions in the same capacity as the ACA, nor does it address other very important issues of coverage -- including essential health benefit mandates such as maternal care. AB 1 does not address lifetime coverage limits, preventative care, consumer protections, or bar discrimination based on gender. During the Assembly Committee on Health’s January 15, 2019 hearing, the bill authors testimony made it clear that they were not interested in expanding the scope of AB1 to include expanded coverage. Without the broader protections and subsidies of the ACA, AB1 does not protect enough people—and could actually lead to harmful unintended consequences, including higher costs. Northern District of Texas Judge Reed O'Connor's December ruling didn't just put protections for preexisting conditions at risk, it attempts to throw out the entire law, including the subsidies that help Wisconsinites afford coverage. AB1 would not close the gap in coverage that will open up should ACA be repealed through the courts. Our state legislative leaders are in a unique position to work to ensure that Wisconsinites continue to be covered and protected in an affordable and comprehensive manner. Rather than enact this inferior talking-point bill, the Assembly should instead focus on withdrawing Wisconsin from the lawsuit and join the numerous attorney generals seeking to uphold the ACA's framework. Such action would allow the Assembly to proudly take ownership for protecting coverage for Wisconsinites and would have the full support of the Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health. AB1 is no substitute for the ACA. Make 2019 the year you take charge of your health! Here are 5 Steps to get started:
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From the National Women's Law Center All health insurance plans should cover all basic health services for women, including birth control, abortion, pre-natal care, childbirth and post-partum care. Yet, merely a day after voters made clear that health care is a top priority, the Department of Health and Human Services released a Proposed Rule designed to take abortion coverage away from individuals who get their insurance through the ACA marketplace. The Proposed Rule is designed to eliminate coverage of abortion altogether.
The Trump-Pence Administration’s Proposed Rule is targeting states where abortion coverage is available in the marketplaces.
The Proposed Rule would endanger women’s health, economic security, and future wellbeing.
 As we start 2019, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) remains the law! Recently, the federal judge in Texas who ruled last month that the law should be struck down declared that the ACA will remain in effect as his decision is appealed to higher courts by 17 state Attorneys General. U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor stayed the effect of his own ruling, writing that otherwise, "many everyday Americans would otherwise face great uncertainty during the pendency of appeal. That means millions of women, LGBTQ people and families are starting 2019 with health insurance they purchased through healthcare.gov and state-based marketplaces during the 2018 ACA open enrollment period. If you’re one of them, here are six insider tips from the pros at Raising Women’s Voices on how to get your money’s worth from your insurance. 1. Breathe a sigh of relief! You have quality insurance that complies with the ACA’s high standards. That means you’re covered for pre-existing conditions, hospitalizations, maternity care, prescription drugs and all the basics you’d expect a health plan to cover!
4. Find doctors you trust. The key to getting the most value out of your health plan is finding doctors and other health care providers you trust who take your insurance. A good way to start is by calling your health plan for help. Tell the representative what is important to you in a doctor, such as office location, languages spoken, gender, hospital affiliation or office hours. If you are looking for an LGBTQ-friendly doctor, try searching the glma directory. You can also ask friends, family or colleagues for recommendations. If you try a new doctor and you do not like him or her, you do not have to go back. You are entitled to try someone different next time.
Need more help getting started with your new health insurance? Raising Women’s Voices has created a website where you can learn much more. It’s called My Health, My Voice. There you can learn five important steps to getting started using your health plan, and understand the four types of costs you may pay to use your coverage (your monthly premium, co-pays, deductibles and co-insurance.) You can also download free copies of our publications: A Woman’s Step-by-Step Guide to Using Health Insurance and My Personal Health Journal.
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Sara Finger, Executive Director Archives
May 2022
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