Advocates: Public Option Opens Door to Progress in Women's Health
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October 27, 2009
CHICAGO - The public option is in, in U.S. Senate health care legislation, and some health care advocates say it offers a landmark opportunity to improve women's access to care. Planned Parenthood of Illinois president Steve Trombley says women have a harder time getting health insurance and pay higher premiums than men, because of reproductive health. But that's the key to prevention, he adds, which saves money in the long run.
"Most women enter the health care system through their reproductive health care provider. So, while many women in this country don't have a primary-care physician that they might go see for a regular checkup, they do go to a family planning health care center in order to get access to contraceptive services."
While abortion foes want to ensure that any government option does not involve or allow funding for this purpose, Trombley says there's another critical aspect to the controversy: Any medical care or procedure that is not included in a public option risks being excluded in the private market as well.
"It will define what becomes the benefits package in the marketplace. Abortion is included in that benefit package and we need to make sure under health care reform people don't lose the benefits that they already have."
Trombley says any changes to the health care system should improve people's lives and provide equal access to care.