Haaland Highlights Financial Disparities Created By Supreme Court Decision on Birth Control

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Deb Haaland (NM-01) released the following statement highlighting the financial disparities created by the Supreme Court's decision to weaken the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive-coverage requirement by allowing private employers to opt out of providing contraceptive coverage for their employees. According to a CNBC report with estimates from the Department of Health and Human Services, the SCOTUS ruling could result in up to 126,000 women losing contraceptive coverage, costing $584 each annually.

"This Supreme Court decision puts the interests of corporations over people. It's not only wrong, but it will negatively impact women's health and is a huge step back for women's financial futures. By weakening birth control coverage requirements, the Trump Administration is creating new disparities by forcing women to bear the financial burden for basic health care services. At the same time, the Trump Administration continues to attack organizations like Planned Parenthood that provide affordable contraceptives and health care for women -- only widening the gender economic gap," said Congresswoman Deb Haaland, Vice Chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus.

Haaland is a cosponsor of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act that passed the U.S. House last week. The landmark Affordable Care Act enhancement legislation would result in significant savings for millions of American families and in fewer Americans being uninsured. Haaland also supports the Medicare for All Act of 2019 which paves a path for universal health care enrollment for all United States residents.

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