House Passes Legislation to Ensure Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) voted in the House to pass H.R. 239, the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act, legislation that will ensure that women veterans have the same no-cost contraceptive care as other women.

"When women in our Armed Forces complete their service, they should be able to expect that at the very least, they'll have the same health care access they had while in the military. But for women veterans covered through the VA, access to the no-cost contraceptive care they received while they were active duty doesn't exist," said Congresswoman Trahan. "The Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act finally closes this loophole and prioritizes the reproductive health of our nation's veterans. I'm proud to support this legislation, which should absolutely be made law without further delay."

Under current law, civilian women who are covered under the Affordable Care Act are eligible to access basic contraceptive services without a co-pay. Active duty servicemembers also have access to contraception without co-pays through TRICARE. Yet, women veterans are currently denied the same access. The Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act simply closes that loophole, ensuring that women veterans -- the fastest growing group of veterans enrolling in VA health care -- are able to access contraceptive care the same way they were eligible to during their service.

H.R. 239 is endorsed by a wide range of organizations, including the Academy of Nursing, American College of Nurse-Midwives, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Center for Reproductive Rights, Military Officers Association of America, Minority Veterans of America, Modern Military Association of America, NARAL Pro-Choice America, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health, National Health Law Program, National Organization for Women, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women's Health Network, National Women's Law Center, Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Paralyzed Veterans of America, People For the American Way, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Population Connection Action Fund, Power to Decide, Protect Our Defenders, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Reproductive Health Access Project, Service Women's Action Network, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Wounded Warrior Project.

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