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News :: Health |
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Contraceptive Coverage Legislation Passes Illinois Senate |
Current rating: 9 |
by Brooke Anderson
Email: brooke (nospam) shout.net (unverified!)
Phone: 217-493-2637 |
16 May 2003
Modified: 02:30:44 PM |
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Illinois House Bill 211 - Contraceptive Equity in Health Insurance - passed the Illinois Senate today 34 to 23. |
House Bill 211 - Contraceptive Equity in Health Insurance - passed the Illinois Senate this morning! HB 211, which would require Illinois health insurance plans that cover prescriptions to cover prescription contraceptives (birth control) passed with 34 senators voting YES, 23 senators voting NO, and 1 senator voting PRESENT.
The passage of this legislation is a result of the efforts of thousands of everyday people working at the grassroots level to effect change. The bill, which is a giant step in ending gender discrimination in health care, will make a concrete difference in the lives of countless Illinois women. Women in our state will no longer be forced to subsidize their own discrimination by paying hundreds of dollars out-of-pocket for their contraceptives. We stood up and demanded our equal rights as women, we demanded the health care that we deserve, and it worked. We not only won contraceptive coverage for Illinois women, but we succeeded in building a very powerful movement in support of women's rights and worker rights in our community - a movement that can no longer be ignored by the powers that be!
Despite pleas from thousands of his constituents to vote YES on this legislation, Senator Winkel not only voted NO, but he was also the main opponent to speak against it during the Senate debate. He voted with Provena Hospital and the Catholic hierarchy, not with the people. Contraceptive coverage is a mainstream issue with mass, by-partisan support. Unfortunately, Senator Winkel aligned himself with the far right, and will certainly be made to pay for his vote in the next election. But, the important thing is not that Winkel voted no, but that the legislation passed. This bill is but one of a million small victories needed in the health care movement. The strength that we have built for this campaign will carry us through other battles to come.
In time, we will take Winkel to task (feel free to write him at rickwinkel (at) rickwinkel.com with your outrage, and copy me at brooke (at) shout.net), but for now we should celebrate our victories! Congratulations to all! Please help spread the word of our victory to others who've been following the issue.
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Re: Contraceptive Coverage Legislation Passes Illinois Senate |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: -3
16 May 2003
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Dear Brooke,
What you have just won is larger insurance premiums. The insurance companies will simply pass this along to employers who will inturn pass it along to their employees, provided that they can still afford to offer it to their employees.
Congratulations on your victory though. You guys have been on a pretty tough losing streak as of late.
Jack |
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Re: Contraceptive Coverage Legislation Passes Illinois Senate |
by John Hilty
jhilty (nospam) shout.net (unverified) |
Current rating: 8
16 May 2003
Modified: 05:52:48 PM |
I'm happy to hear that HB211 has passed. This means LOWER
insurance premiums because there will be fewer unwanted
babies that will be brought into this world -- an it costs
money to bring babies into this world at the local hospital.
Furthermore, because insurance companies can purchase drugs
at a discount (unlike private individuals, who have to pay
the full retail price), the net medical costs for preventive
birth control should be lower.
Losing streak? CCHCC and the other organizations that lobbied
for this piece of legislation have a long history of winning
their battles ... and there will be more victories in the
future, I'm certain.
Congratulations are in order to Brooke and the many individuals
who helped to pass this legislation.
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Re: Contraceptive Coverage Legislation Passes Illinois Senate |
by Observer
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 5
16 May 2003
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To simply congratulate the Health Care Consumers for their brave effort to see that HB 211 passes the Senate would be really an understaement on my part. But since I cannot and I am not allowed to say anything else, I want to offer my heartfelt congratualtions to the brave womyn and men of the Champaign County Health Care Consumers for their outstanding work on this issue.
Let also add to those posters concerned about costs, that they have it wrong! Thsi is a health issue and a human rights issue for the well being of the majority of this country (our struggling sisters everywhere). The principles of health care access and full coverage of reproductive health for both womyn and men, as well as the principle of human rights should guide all of our thinking on this, not the cost.
The Illinois Senate has done the right thing. Let's see the whole Legislature now do what it needs to be done to place this in the books!
Congratulations to the Champaign County Health Care Consumers for their outstanding courage and work!
Observer |
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Re: Contraceptive Coverage Legislation Passes Illinois Senate |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: -3
17 May 2003
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Dear Dr. John,
Okay, do you care to make this interesting? Dr. John claims that as a result of this legislation, our insurance premiums will go down. I say that state mandated plans will increase as a result. Now put your money where your keyboard is. Name the terms and I will cover all takers.
The fact that you continue to place responsibility for your actions in the wallet of others does not surprise me in the least. Now suffer the consequences.
Jack |
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Re: Contraceptive Coverage Legislation Passes Illinois Senate |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: -2
21 May 2003
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Dear Dr. John and Friends,
What no takers on my bet???? I did not think so. If you are a MD., than you know that this legislation is a disaster for Illinois employers. It is also a tragedy for the people in Illinois who would like a job but can't get one. Employers will simply put their plants, factories, offices, and services in locations that are more friendly to business.
Drive along the border of Illinois sometime and you will see what I mean.
Jack |
