DENVER – Nuevas reglas emitidas por la administración Trump permiten a los empleados de aseguradoras negar cobertura en casos de anticoncepción, poniendo a 53 mil mujeres en riesgo de perder su seguro médico para control natal.

De tal manera que hoy, cuando abre la inscripción para cobertura de salud bajo la Ley de Atención Asequible (“Affordable Care Act”), las mujeres de Colorado y de todo el país podrían terminar pagando mucho más de su bolsillo por la cobertura de control natal.

El Presidente Donald Trump recientemente allanó el camino para que los empleados eliminen de sus planes de salud la atención contraceptiva.

Emily Johnson, analista “senior” de políticas y estadística en el Instituto de la Salud de Colorado (“Colorado Health Institute”), dice que 53 mil mujeres del estado podrían acabar sin cobertura para surtir sus recetas de control natal.

“La Ley de Cuidado Asequible también exige planes de seguro para tratamientos de control natal como un servicio de prevención saludable para mujeres, lo que significa que debe ser un servicio sin costo que las mujeres pueden tener para todas las principales formas de control natal.”

En octubre la administración Trump emitió reglas que permitirían a las empresas negarle a las mujeres trabajadoras un seguro de salud para anticoncepción, arguyendo que las mujeres que tengan objeciones religiosas o morales ante el control natal no deberían pagar la cobertura.

Una investigación hecha entre mujeres que tienen negocios pequeños detectó que muchas ven el acceso al control natal como factor crítico para avanzar en la carrera, para el lanzamiento de empresas o para su progreso.

Emily Dewey gerente de difusión en Mayoría de Negocios Pequeños (“Small Business Majority”), que fue el grupo comisionado a levantar el estudio, dice que el acceso al control natal asequible es más que un problema de salud.

“Tener acceso a servicios de salud con un precio crítico, incluso el acceso al control natal, puede hacer la diferencia para que una mujer pueda iniciar un negocio o hacerlo crecer, y convertirse en empresaria fuerte que genera empleos en la economía de hoy.”

De acuerdo al Departamento de Salud Pública y Medio Ambiente de Colorado (“Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment”), la tasa de nacimientos de madres adolescentes y la cantidad de abortos han bajado significativamente debido al mejor acceso que hay a los servicios de planificación familiar.

Johnson agrega que las empresas que no cubrieron la contracepción antes del ACA podrían resistirse a hacer retroactivo el beneficio.

“Una vez que la gente tiene un nuevo beneficio del seguro de salud, es mucho más difícil quitárselo que si nunca se le brindó en primer lugar. Así que no podemos estar seguros de si cada mujer que antes no tuvo cobertura de control natal, vaya a perderla.”

La Unión Americana de Libertades Civiles exigió, a nombre de un sindicato de trabajadores, que se bloqueen estas nuevas normas.

El análisis del “Colorado Health Institute” (CHI) está en coloradohealthinstitute.org - La investigación, en smallbusinessmajority.org - El reporte del “Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment” (CDPHE), en colorado.gov.


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After more than 50 years of use, some Michigan lawmakers say naloxone may not be the best choice in an overdose situation.

Naloxone is sometimes called the "Lazarus drug" because of its powerful ability to seemingly resurrect people after a drug overdose.

Sen. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores, and some of his colleagues have introduced a bill which would open the door for what they say are more costly, but more powerful, antidotes.

"Given the prevalence of fentanyl in our communities, and how much stronger some of these drugs that we're now seeing are, we believe -- and in talking with others -- that there should be other tools to respond to an overdose," Hertel explained. "To make sure we're doing everything we can to save somebody's life."

Not everyone is on board with the proposed legislation, Senate Bill 542. Opponents argued the more expensive naloxone alternatives are not necessary, and using them would only increase profits for the pharmaceutical industry.

Jonathan Stoltman, director of the Opioid Policy Institute in Grand Rapids, said while the naloxone alternatives do help in overdose situations, they can also cause nasty side effects.

"The newer approaches, they put people into more severe withdrawal," Stoltman pointed out. "That's a pretty profound negative side effect. The one approach is very inexpensive and works great; the other approach is far more expensive and has this strong negative side effect."

Sponsors of the bill say they're hoping to give Michigan residents a chance to chime in on the issue in a public hearing sometime in June. Michigan saw more than 3,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2021.


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New Mexico saw record enrollment numbers for the Affordable Care Act this year and is now setting its sights on lowering out-of-pocket costs - those not reimbursed by insurance. More than 56,000 New Mexicans are enrolled in a medical health insurance plan on the state exchange - an increase of 12,000 people overall.

Colin Baillio, deputy superintendent with the state's Office of Insurance, said the state has boosted its outreach and made efforts to improve the overall consumer experience.

"We saw a 40% year-over-year increase, and New Mexico saw the biggest percentage increase during the open-enrollment period among all of the state-based marketplaces," he explained

Part of the enrollment increase is due to what's called the "unwinding" - a federal directive that required all states to redetermine Medicaid eligibility following a three-year pause on checks during the COVID pandemic. He said by using expanded tools made available by the federal and state government, 8% of New Mexico's population is now uninsured - down from 23% in 2010.

Following approval by lawmakers in the 2024 legislative session, the New Mexico governor signed seven health care-related bills into law - one of which requires annual reporting of prescription drug pricing. Baililo said the Affordable Care Act built the foundation that has allowed the state to pursue additional affordability initiatives.

"I'm really glad to see that there's so much interest in the next step of health reform, really leaning into these out-of-pocket cost issues and making it easier for people to afford to stay covered and see their doctors," he continued.

Two years ago, the state also passed a one-of-a-kind law that did away with behavioral health co-pays for people in certain insurance plans.

New York's medical aid-in-dying bill is gaining further support. The Medical Society of the State of New York is supporting the bill. New York's bill allows terminally ill people with only six months to live to use this option, with safeguards requiring two physicians' approval.

The bill's Assembly sponsor Amy Paulin, D-Westchester, said despite the growing support, other hurdles lie ahead.

"Now we have what I believe, if it came to the floor, a majority. There's still a hesitation on the part of leadership. You know, we need members to assure leadership that they no longer have reservations," she said.

Other newly resolved concerns center on making sure insurance companies and doctors who don't support this aren't held liable. She's optimistic the bill will pass after nine years in the Legislature. New York would be the 11th state along with Washington, D.C. to have medical aid in dying legislation.

Corinne Carey, senior New York campaign director with Compassion and Choices finds the pandemic drew a vivid picture of a person's end-of-life experience. There were images of people dying on ventilators, apart from loved ones, and unable to communicate. She said people began thinking about a "good death."

"And, what is a good death is being surrounded by loved ones, having some measure of control, experiencing the touch of your loved ones, and being the one in the driver's seat," she explained.

Now people have different options for end-of-life care, each of which presents various challenges. Polls show medical aid in dying has garnered considerable support since being introduced in 2015. A 2022 Compassion and Choices poll finds 57% of nurses support medical aid in dying professionally, although fewer support it personally.