2005-2006 Regular Session 1st House HR 4651 & Senate S 1214

Summary: The bill seeks parity for prescription contraception within health plans that already cover medicines. Very simply, EPICC would require that insurance plans that already provide coverage for prescription drugs include contraceptives in their coverage. There are at least 30 state laws requiring coverage of some kind through health plans. EPICC would ensure all citizens the same, equitable coverage no matter which state one resides in.

What You Should Know: Ensuring access to affordable contraception improves the health of women and children, reduces the nation’s staggering rates of unintended pregnancy, and reduces the need for abortion.

Primary Sponsor(s): Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) & Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

Introduction Date: 12/22/2005 (House) & 6/9/2005 (Senate)

Last Major Action:

House: 3/27/2006. Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.

Senate: 6/9/2005. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.