Oregon passes comprehensive reproductive health bill that covers the most marginalized communities – Daily Kos

Oregon's Reproductive Health Equity Act requires insurance providers to cover services regardless of income, gender identity, or citizenship

Republicans do not want women having control over their own bodies and their reproductive choices. This isclear, not only from theirviews on abortionin general,but also from the sheer number of laws they have attempted to pass in order to defund womens health programsnot just domestically but globally. They makeno secret of the fact that their views on women and sex are nothing short of puritanical and their obsession with our uteri is not only disturbing, its also dangerous and life-threatening. And with Republicans now in control of the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives, reproductive justice for women seems very unlikely at the federal level.

Luckily, Democrats are taking up this fight in their respective states. Leading the way isOregon, which just passed the Reproductive Health Equity Act, requiring health insurance companies to cover a wide range of reproductive services. The bill is currently up for signing by the states governor and has a real shot at becoming law.

Democrats in the Oregon Senatepassedthe Reproductive Health Equity Act, a multifaceted measure that requires health insurers to cover a range of reproductive health servicesincluding abortions and contraception, prenatal and postnatal care, and screenings for cancer, sexually transmitting infections, and gestational diabetesat no cost to patients, no matter their income, citizenship status, or gender identity. (The legislation does include an exemption for religious employers that object to providing abortion and contraception coverage.) Should Roe v. Wade be overturned, the measure also prepares to insulate the state from repercussions by codifying a womans legal right to an abortion in the state.

Wow. Not only does this bill include comprehensive coverage, but its authors also thought about making sure thatthose who are poor,undocumented, or havenon-permanentimmigration status, and transgender and gender non-confirmingpeople were not excluded.This is not only hugeits a sign of what progressives can do when we are intentional about designing laws that matchour talk. Access to this kind of care will save many lives and will keep people from going deeply in debt if they cant afford these services.

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Oregon passes comprehensive reproductive health bill that covers the most marginalized communities - Daily Kos