DeGette, Speier introduces legislation to provide U.S. servicewomen access to free contraceptives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Jackie Speier (D-CA) introduced legislation today to overhaul the U.S. military's policy on providing servicemembers and their families with family-planning counseling services and coverage for contraceptives.

The bill would require the Department of Defense to provide all women who receive health care through the military's health insurance program access to all forms of FDA-approved contraception without any co-pay.

"Our U.S. servicemen and women put their lives on the line every day to protect our country," said DeGette, who chairs the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus. "We have a responsibility to provide them the same care that they provide us, and that includes providing them access to all of the health care services they need."

The U.S. Department of Defense provides health care to over 1.5 million women of reproductive age, including servicewomen on active duty, in the guard or reserves, and their dependents.

Studies have shown that women in the military have a 50 percent higher rate of unplanned pregnancy than the general population. Those studies have also shown that servicewomen face unique challenges accessing their preferred method of contraception and family-planning counselling, especially when deployed.

While certain provisions in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) guarantee civilian women full coverage for any FDA-approved contraception, without cost sharing, those provisions do not apply to many servicemembers and their dependents who are covered through the military's health insurance program, known as TRICARE.

If approved, DeGette and Speier's legislation would:

• Require the military to provide all women who receive health care through TRICARE access to all forms of FDA-approved contraception and family planning counselling services with no health insurance co-pay;
• Require the Department of Defense to develop a comprehensive family planning education program for all servicemembers, ensuring that military families have the information necessary to make informed family planning decisions; and
• Enhance access to emergency contraception for survivors of military sexual assault.

The bill has been endorsed by numerous women's health organizations, including: the American Civil Liberties Union, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Center for Reproductive Rights, MomsRising, NARAL Pro-Choice America, National Council of Jewish Women, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, National Organization for Women, National Partnership for Women & Families, People For the American Way, Physicians for Reproductive Health and Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

An identical version of the bill was introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

A copy of the text of the bill is available here.