Repeal of Health Care Would Jeopardize Critical Health Care for Women, Infants

Press Release

Pregnant women and new mothers joined U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow and other Democratic women Senators today at the U.S. Capitol to highlight the House Republicans' irresponsible effort to shut down the government if health care reform is not defunded. Repealing or defunding the Affordable Care Act, like House Republicans want to, would take way basic coverage like maternity care, prenatal care, preventative screenings and other critical services for millions of women. Senate Democratic women led the fight to include important protections for women in the Affordable Care Act.

"If House Republicans get their way, women will lose critical protections like maternity care, preventive services and more," said Stabenow. "This isn't just a Washington parlor game. Republican tactics threaten to hurt real people all across America. The Democratic women in the Senate were joined by new mothers, mothers-to-be, nurses, midwives and OBGYNs to stand up for women all across America and tell them we won't let them take away this critical care for women."

If health care reform is repealed, women could be charged more for just being a woman. Before the Affordable Care Act, pregnancy was often considered a "pre-existing condition" and pregnant women often could not get any health care at all.

Republicans have now voted 42 times to repeal or defund the Affordable Care Act. Republicans have now threatened to shut down the government if healthcare reform, which was enacted nearly four years ago and upheld by the Supreme Court, is not defunded or repealed.

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