[Imc-newsroom] Fwd: MEDIA ADVISORY - Contraceptive coverage

[Paul Riismandel]

>Delivered-To: Weft at prairienet.org
>X-Sender: brooke at mail.shout.net
>Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2002 15:33:14 -0600
>To: Weft at prairienet.org
>From: Brooke Anderson <brooke at shout.net>
>Subject: MEDIA ADVISORY - Contraceptive coverage
>
>Media Advisory
>Thursday, January 31st, 2002
>
>Contact: Brooke Anderson
>Champaign County Health Care Consumers
>(217) 352-6533, x. 17 or (217) 493-2637
>brooke at shout.net
>
>Contraceptive Coverage for UI Employees
>Task Force responds to UI's announcement of new contraceptive service
>
>Representatives of the Women's Health Task Force met today with University 
>of Illinois Chancellor, Dr. Nancy Cantor, to discuss the University's 
>plans to enact contraceptive coverage for U of I employees. At the 
>meeting, the University administration announced plans to implement a new 
>contraceptive service for its employees.
>
>The Women's Health Task Force will be holding a press conference tomorrow 
>to discuss their reactions to the plans for this new service and to 
>announce their next steps in the campaign to win full contraceptive 
>coverage for University of Illinois employees. The press conference will 
>be on Friday, February 1st, 2002 at 1:00 p.m. at the offices of Planned 
>Parenthood of East Central Illinois, located at 302 E. Stoughton, Champaign.
>
>Background Information. In November 2001, the WHTF kicked off a campaign 
>to win contraceptive coverage for UI employees by calling on the 
>University to meet with representatives of the Task Force to discuss a 
>timeline and strategy for establishing full contraceptive coverage for its 
>employees. The U of I currently excludes contraceptives from its 
>employees' health insurance plans, costing many women employees (and 
>spouses of employees) $300-$500 per year. These high out-of-pocket 
>expenses are a financial hardship and a major barrier to contraceptive 
>access for women. Out-of-pocket expenses add up quickly over a lifetime 
>and contribute greatly to the fact that women  (who typically still earn 
>less than their male counterparts) pay 68% more than men for out-of-pocket 
>health care expenses. The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission has 
>issued a decision stating that failure to provide contraceptive coverage 
>constitutes discrimination against women. On this basis, employees around 
>the nation have successfully sued employers to provide this coverage.
>
>
>Who:    Women's Health Task Force
>
>What:   Press conference responding to UI plans for contraceptive service
>
>When:   Friday, February 1st, 2002 at 1:00 p.m.
>
>Where:  Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois,
>         302 E. Stoughton, Champaign
>
>
>
>--
>**************************************
>Brooke Anderson
>Champaign County Health Care Consumers
>44 E. Main St., Suite 208
>Champaign, IL 61820
>Phone = (217) 352-6533, x 17
>Fax = (217) 352-9745
>Email = brooke at shout.net
>**************************************
>
>