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News :: Health
Protesters Gather In Support Of HB 211 Current rating: 5
13 May 2003
Modified: 09:47:08 AM
A crowd of about 80 people gathered in front of Senator Rick Winkel's office at Sunnycrest Mall in Urbana to display their support of HB 211, which would require many health insurance plans to provide equal coverage for contraceptive drugs and devices.
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A crowd of about 80 people gathered in front of Sunnycrest Mall on Philo Rd. in Urbana on May 12 (Mon.) at noon. This is where Rick Winkel's office is located, who is State Senator of Illinois for the district that includes Champaign-Urbana. The protesters demonstrated their support for Illinois House Bill 211 (HB 211), and encouraged their senator to vote YES for this pending legislation. Under HB 211, insurance plans that cover prescription drugs and medical devices would be prohibited from excluding contraceptive drugs and devices from that coverage. This protest was organized by the Women's Health Task Force of CCHCC, the National Organization of Women (NOW), labor unions, and other groups.

#file_1#

The protesters assembled along Philo Rd. and displayed various protest signs to passing motorists, such as "Vote Yes for HB 211!" and "Cover Our Pills Now!" Several passing motorists slowed down and honked their horns in support. Two organizers of the event, Brooke Anderson and Kathy Spegal, spoke before the crowd using a bullhorn. They stated that the failure to cover contraceptive prescriptions and devices in health insurance plans is a form of gender discrimination that causes thousands of women in Illinois to pay an additional $300-600/yr. in out-of-pocket medical expenses. Lack of such coverage is a leading cause of unwanted pregnancies in Illinois and elsewhere. It was mentioned that many insurance plans provide coverage of Viagra for men (a male aphrodisiac), but won't pay for the contraceptives of women.

#file_2#

In support of this reasoning, a U.S. District Court has ruled that the exclusion of prescription contraceptives from an otherwise comprehensive health insurance plan is an act of gender discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (see Erickson v. Bartell Drug Co., 2001). This court ruling follows a recent administrative decision by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that exclusion of such coverage by employers is discriminatory against women. Under HB 211, the health insurance plans within the state would be required to comply with these Federal mandates.

#file_3#

After demonstrating along Philo Rd., the protesters marched toward the office of Senator Rick Winkel at Sunnycrest Mall. Brooke Anderson, Allison Jones, and Kathy Spegal entered Winkel's office and presented a letter with the signatures of dozens of people, which encouraged a YES vote on HB 211. They were cordially received by a secretary, who faxed the letter to the senator's office in Springfield, where he was residing at the time. The organizers of the event also called his office in Springfield using a cell phone, while the surrounding crowd shouted their support for HB 211. The entire protest lasted about an hour.

#file_4#

HB 211 is up for a vote in the Illinois Senate later this week. According to its supporters, this legislation may be one vote short of passing the senate. Rick Winkel has failed to make his position clear to the bill's supporters, and is considered one of the undecided senators. You can contact Rick Winkel at 217-328-0400 (phone) or rickwinkel@rickwinkel.com (e-mail) to express you views on this pending legislation. Some business groups and Catholic health care organizations have been lobbying against HB 211, so it is important that the supporters of this bill contact their representatives in Springfield as quickly as possible. It should be noted that Rick Winkel was elected to the Illinois Senate by a narrow margin (about 500 votes), and may be vulnerable to pressure from his constituency.
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Related stories on this site:
Over 80 Citizens Picket Senator Winkel's Office In Urbana
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Re: Protesters Gather In Support Of HB 211
Current rating: 6
13 May 2003
Anyone thought of bring this to court? That this is discrimination based on gender? If they will approve funding for Viagra, whose main purpose is to allow men to, well you know, then shouldn't they fund birth control for the women who get f*cked? Seems to me that women are getting f*cked either way. Keep up the good work, glad to live in a province where birth control is free to those who can't afford it and all abortions are covered under medical plans.
Re: Protesters Gather In Support Of HB 211
Current rating: 3
16 May 2003
The Illinois Senate passed HB211 this Friday, and so it
isn't necessary to bring this matter before the courts.