Ensuring Real Access for Women of Color Under the ACA
July 17, 2015Late last month, the Supreme Court decided (6-3 vote) again that the Affordable Care Act is here to stay and protected health care coverage for millions of Americans. The Black Women’s health Imperative, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, and Planned Parenthood Federtion of America celebrated the decision on social media using #AfterKvBand spread the word that birth control coverage remains in place for all women.
According to Dr. Nerys Benfield, MD, MPH (Albert Einstein College of Medicine), improved awareness about health insurance coverage of contraception remains important for women of color and Black women. In a phone interview, Dr. Benfield said “There are people who don’t know they are eligible for Medicaid, or that family planning coverage is available, or what their contraceptive options are. Some people have no source of legitimate information. There is a need to focus on disseminating information in the community.”
When it comes to contraception – and the last chance to prevent an unintended pregnancy through emergency contraception – the stakes are high, and the time for action is always now. Black women are more likely to experience an unintended pregnancy and are more likely to have a higher body mass, a risk factor for emergency contraception failure.