Facts on Contraceptive Equity | Dollars and Sense | In the States | In the Courts | In Congress | On Campus | The Case

In Congress

1997- The Equity in Prescription Insurance and Contraceptive Coverage (EPICC) bill was introduced. The bill received a hearing in the Senate, but not the House of Representatives.

1999- EPICC was introduced again. The bill never recieved a hearing in either chamber.

2001- Again, EPICC was introduced in both the House and the Senate. This is the third legislative session that the bill has been introduced. The Senate bill is S. 104 and was introduced by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV). The House bill, H.R. 1111, was introduced by Rep. Jim Greenwood (R-PA) and Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY).

IF it is passed into law, what will EPICC mean to you?

• If you have an insurance plan that already covers prescription drugs and devices, EPICC would require your plan to cover all forms of prescription contraception (pills, Depo Provera�, IUDs, diaphragms, NuvaRing�, Ortho Evra� (contraceptive patch) ).
• EPICC would also require outpatient medical services to include outpatient contraceptive services in the coverage.
• If you work for a self-insured employer that is not subject to your state's contraceptive equity law, EPICC will require your company to add contraceptive coverage if the company health plan offers other prescription benefits.

Ask your Senators and members of Congress to support EPICC!

• Ask your senator and representative to support EPICC.

• Write a letter to your employer or union rep and send a copy of it to your elected officials. That way, while opponents in Congress continue to stall EPICC legislation, you'll be taking action that is more likely to succeed in getting contraception benefits in your health plan, and at the same time telling your elected officials that you want contraceptive benefits.