• 2.23.2012 Stand up for Women's Health Don't Leave Colo Women Behind

Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado Sends Message to Attorney General John Suthers:

Stand up for Women's Health Don't Leave Colo Women Behind

DENVER – In the midst of the Obama administration's commitment to ensuring that all women will have access to birth control coverage under the new federal health care reform law—with no costly co-pays and no matter where they work—attorneys general from select states, including Colorado, are considering a federal lawsuit against the administration's contraception benefit.

"The move by Colorado's own Attorney General John Suthers is deeply disappointing," said PPVC Vice President of Public Affairs Cathy Alderman. "To many Colorado women, the discussions about what politicians want to do to with women's health care have been extremely insulting. To see Suthers join in opposition against President Obama's new path forward simply demonstrates how out of touch he is with Colorado voters."

Colorado is one of 28 states that already require contraception coverage in health insurance plans similar to the new federal rule. In 2010, Gov. Bill Ritter signed House Bill 1021 into law, guaranteeing contraception coverage in the individual and small group (health insurance) markets.

A recent New York Times/CBS News poll found that 65 percent of American voters said they support the benefit, and 59 percent said the health insurance plans of religiously affiliated employers should cover the cost of birth control. The number of supporters is similar among self-professed Catholics surveyed: 61 percent said they support the requirement, while 32 percent oppose it.

This benefit has real health and economic benefits. A woman can pay up to $50 a month for birth control. Ninety-nine percent of all sexually experienced women and 98 percent of sexually experienced Catholic women will have used birth control at some point in their lives, but more than half of women between 18 and 34 years old have struggled to afford it.

Women also know that contraception is basic health care. Healthy families begin with healthy pregnancies and birth control is directly linked to improving a woman's health and the health of her family.

"Bottom line, Suthers just doesn't get it," said Alderman. "Health care reform should ensure that women are better off after health care reform than they are today; not take away benefits women already rely on."

Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado urges voters to contact Attorney General Suthers to tell him that he's out of touch with Colorado women and families.

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Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado promotes pro-choice and pro-family planning policies, advocates for unrestricted access to reproductive healthcare services and comprehensive sex education, and serves as the resource of choice for candidates and elected officials on these issues.