Information for Women

Being a woman is no longer a pre-existing condition!

We’ve heard this before during the health care debate, but what does it mean under the new health care laws?

According to an article in The New York Times, the new health care law essentially forbids insurance companies from discriminating based on gender. “Previously, there was no such ban, and insurance companies took full advantage of the void. Until now, it has been perfectly legal in most states for companies selling individual health policies — for people who do not have group coverage through employers — to engage in ‘gender rating,’ that is, charging women more than men for the same coverage, even for policies that do not include maternity care…. Insurers have also applied gender-rating to group coverage, but laws against sex discrimination in the workplace prevent employers from passing along the higher costs to their employees based on sex.”

Will Health Care Reform help women who are employed?

The insurance company practice of “gender rating,” or charging women more than men for the same insurance coverage, has hurt smaller and midsize businesses that employ many women. Examples of such businesses are home health and child care agencies, and most nonprofits. Because the costs are just too high, these agencies haven’t offered health insurance benefits to their employees, or only offer plans with high deductibles. The recently passed health care law will now essentially forbid insurance companies from discriminating based on gender. (The New York Times)

Many women are happy with their existing insurance coverage. Why does Health Care Reform matter to them?

Women play an important role in choosing the health care that their families receive, and they are therefore major stakeholders in health care reform. The new health care legislation encompasses important advances for women’s health and the health of their families and community.
(National Women’s Law Center)

For example, beginning this year, health insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to children with preexisting conditions or drop people from coverage when they get sick, and they must allow young people up to their 26th birthday to remain on their parent’s policy. Read more about
- Key Provisions that take Effect Immediately

The new law also considers a new voluntary long-term care insurance program, requires employers to provide reasonable breaks and a private place for nursing mothers, and offers a new grant program to provide services to women with postpartum depression and their families. Read the
- Health Reform Implementation Timeline: Key Provisions for Women’s Health

How will reform impact women in Illinois?

To learn how health care reform provisions will affect women in Illinois, read the summary prepared by the Illinois Maternal & Child Health Coalition.

 

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