STATEMENT BY CECILE RICHARDS ON GENDER DISPARITY IN HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS

“Our health care system is broken. Today’s news that women pay significantly more in insurance premiums than men for individual health insurance policies is another reason for the urgent need for comprehensive health care reform,” said Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “The individual market does an inadequate job of providing quality, affordable health insurance to women, oftentimes not covering basic health needs such as maternity care.

“As a trusted and leading reproductive health care provider, Planned Parenthood sees millions of women every year and knows firsthand the health needs of women across the country. That is why we are advocating for health care reform that guarantees equal access to comprehensive, high-quality, affordable health care for all. That means protecting women’s access to some of their most basic health needs, such as inclusion of contraception in comprehensive drug benefit plans; direct access to ob/gyn’s; coverage of maternity care; breast cancer, cervical cancer, and HPV screenings.”

Read the New York Times article: Women Buying Health Policies Pay a Penalty

Planned Parenthood Federation of America is the nation's leading sexual and reproductive health care advocate and provider. We believe that everyone has the right to choose when or whether to have a child, and that every child should be wanted and loved. Planned Parenthood affiliates operate more than 880 health centers nationwide, providing medical services and sexuality education for millions of women, men, and teenagers each year. We also work with allies worldwide to ensure that all women and men have the right and the means to meet their sexual and reproductive health care needs.