The National Campaign Cautions That Millions of Women Could Lose Full Access to Contraception Under a Repeal of the Affordable Care Act: We Urge the…

Targeted News Service (Press Releases)

The National Campaign Cautions That Millions of Women Could Lose Full Access to Contraception Under a Repeal of the Affordable Care Act: We Urge the House to Vote Against the Repeal

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy issued the following news release:

In response to the House Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means Committees passage of the American Health Care Act, which effectively repeals many existing protections of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy voices its concern that this move could take health care coverage and access to contraception away from millions of people in the United States. While its future is uncertain, if the American Health Care Act were to become law it could significantly and negatively impact low-income women's access to the full range of birth control methods.

"We strongly urge both chambers of Congress to vote against the American Health Care Act," said Ginny Ehrlich, CEO of The National Campaign. "Nearly 20 million women already live in contraceptive deserts where they do not have reasonable access to the full range of birth control methods despite the significant coverage gains brought by the ACA. Preliminary research suggests that millions of people in the U.S. could lose their health care coverage if this new legislation becomes law. This would mean that even more women would be without the affordable access they need to decide if and when to become pregnant."

Recent research conducted by The National Campaign shows that nearly 20 million American women live in contraceptive deserts--defined by their lack of reasonable access to public health care sites offering the full range of contraceptive methods. Furthermore, an overwhelming majority--81 precent of Americans (including 70 precent of Republicans and 90 precent of Democrats)--agree that birth control is a basic part of women's health care.