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News :: Miscellaneous |
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UI Announces New Contraceptive Coverage--Task Force Responds |
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by Brooke Anderson
Email: brooke (nospam) shout.net (unverified!)
Phone: (217) 352-6533, x. 17 or (217) 4 |
31 Jan 2002
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A task force of University of Illinois employees met with the campus' top officer about providing insurance coverage for contraceptives and learned that UI will provide some contraceptives, but not insurance. The task force will respond to the meeting during a press conference on Friday. |
Media Advisory
Thursday, January 31st, 2002
Contact: Brooke Anderson
Champaign County Health Care Consumers
(217) 352-6533, x. 17 or (217) 493-2637
brooke (at) shout.net
Contraceptive Coverage for UI Employees
Task Force responds to UI's announcement of new contraceptive service
Representatives of the Women's Health Task Force met today with University of Illinois Chancellor, Dr. Nancy Cantor, to discuss the University's plans to enact contraceptive coverage for U of I employees. At the meeting, the University administration announced plans to implement a new contraceptive service for its employees.
The Women's Health Task Force will be holding a press conference tomorrow to discuss their reactions to the plans for this new service and to announce their next steps in the campaign to win full contraceptive coverage for University of Illinois employees. The press conference will be on Friday, February 1st, 2002 at 1:00 p.m. at the offices of Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois, located at 302 E. Stoughton, Champaign.
Background Information. In November 2001, the WHTF kicked off a campaign to win contraceptive coverage for UI employees by calling on the University to meet with representatives of the Task Force to discuss a timeline and strategy for establishing full contraceptive coverage for its employees. The U of I currently excludes contraceptives from its employees' health insurance plans, costing many women employees (and spouses of employees) $300-$500 per year. These high out-of-pocket expenses are a financial hardship and a major barrier to contraceptive access for women. Out-of-pocket expenses add up quickly over a lifetime and contribute greatly to the fact that women (who typically still earn less than their male counterparts) pay 68% more than men for out-of-pocket health care expenses. The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission has issued a decision stating that failure to provide contraceptive coverage constitutes discrimination against women. On this basis, employees around the nation have successfully sued employers to provide this coverage.
Who: Women's Health Task Force
What: Press conference responding to UI plans for contraceptive service
When: Friday, February 1st, 2002 at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois,
302 E. Stoughton, Champaign |
