Contraceptive Equity in New Jersey

The Choice NJ Coalition, which includes Planned Parenthood Association of the Mercer Area (PPAMA), Planned Parenthood of Central New Jersey, Planned Parenthood of Greater Northern New Jersey, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey, Planned Parenthood of Southern New Jersey, and the local chapters of NARAL Pro-Choice America and the National Organization for Women, worked to get the legislation passed.

"This was a hard-fought and well-deserved victory for New Jersey's Planned Parenthood family."
The law requires most employer health plans that offer prescription drug coverage to cover the costs of contraceptives for women, but excludes churches and religious schools from covering contraceptives if doing so conflicts with "bona fide religious beliefs and practices." However, these employers are required to cover contraceptives that are necessary to "preserve the life or health" of an employee.

The religious exemption could affect hundreds of women whose religious beliefs differ from their employers. But the bill's passage is a great victory nonetheless. As Planned Parenthood Affiliates of New Jersey's website says, "We believe that a woman's right to birth control and her ability to have it covered by insurance should not be determined by the personal or religious views of her boss," but, "Planned Parenthood will never actively oppose any bill that increases access to contraceptive coverage."

Says Kelly Baden, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of New Jersey's director of public affairs, "From the start of the 2004-2005 legislative session, we have worked hard to educate legislators and ensure that they heard from their constituents on this bill. Our advocacy efforts grew stronger as more and more of our supporters reached out to their legislators."

According to Baden, these efforts resulted in more than 3,100 e-mails, 376 patch-through phone calls, and 765 postcards sent to assembly members urging passage of the contraceptive equity bill.

"This was a hard-fought and well-deserved victory for New Jersey's Planned Parenthood family," says Baden. "Thanks to the hard work of our staff and the dedication of our activists, the New Jersey Assembly and Senate recognized the importance of contraceptive equity, and thousands more New Jersey women will have access to this basic health care."

© 2006 Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. All rights reserved.