Introduced legislation would expand health care for pregnant women

WASHINGTON, D.C. | U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) have introduced the Healthy Maternity and Obstetric Medicine (MOM) Act, legislation designed to expand health care access for pregnant women and ensure they receive coverage that meets their needs. The Healthy MOM Act would ensure that women eligible for coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, as well as those eligible for other individual or group health plans, can access affordable health care throughout their pregnancies. The bill would also establish a special enrollment period for expectant mothers. Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12) has introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. Currently, marriage, divorce, having a baby, adoption, and changing jobs are considered qualifying life events that trigger a special enrollment period; however, becoming pregnant is not considered a qualifying event. The Healthy MOM Act would change that. Along with Sen's Gillibrand and Alsobrooks, the Healthy MOM Act is cosponsored by Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). "As a mother, I know firsthand that your health care needs can change when you become pregnant, and you should have the option to change your coverage to address them," said Sen. Gillibrand. "Especially as Republicans continue to put up barriers to health coverage enrollment and block efforts to lower costs, we must keep pushing to make care accessible for everyone. I am proud that our legislation would allow pregnant women to access affordable coverage that best meets their evolving needs, and I will keep fighting to get it across the finish line." "We have a responsibility to ensure pregnant women have access to the best health care. The Healthy MOM Act would trigger a special enrollment period so expectant mothers can get critical health care coverage for themselves and their baby, building on the example of my own state of Maryland. As Republicans try to rip away health care from Americans, including mothers, I'm proud to fight back and partner with Congresswoman Watson Coleman to expand access to affordable care for new mothers," said Sen. Alsobrooks. "Events like the birth or adoption of a child, marriage, divorce, or even moving to a new state all trigger a special window to get or change your health insurance. Meanwhile, pregnancy, one of the most life-altering events a mother can experience, doesn't," said Congresswoman Watson Coleman. "We're dealing with maternal mortality rates that are, in some places and among some groups, worse than developing nations. It is inexcusable that the United States, the wealthiest nation on Earth, has such a high maternal mortality rate. Ensuring every woman can access the care she needs during pregnancy and after giving birth is a critical part of ending this crisis. This is a simple, logical way to make sure that happens." "Access to affordable health care is essential to every pregnant person's safety and well-being, but it remains out of reach for far too many. We need to make it easier for pregnant mothers to get care – and creating a special enrollment period through the ACA marketplaces would do just that. This legislation will help more expectant mothers get the coverage they need to stay healthy throughout pregnancy and beyond," said Sen. Van Hollen. "While pregnancy can be a joyous time, it also comes with unique health risks that deserve real attention," said Sen. Cortez Masto. "No mother should have to navigate those risks without access to the high-quality, affordable health care they need for a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby." "Moms deserve affordable, accessible health care––full stop. No one should have to fight an insurance company or put off care because they don't have the money," said Sen. Fetterman. "Our country's maternal mortality rate is too high, and this bill is a step toward improving health outcomes for mothers and children. We should be doing what we can to help them get the coverage and care they need, when they need it." "When a woman gets pregnant, she should be able to enroll in or change health coverage, no matter what time of year it is. But right now, pregnancy isn't a qualifying life event—and that blocks women across the country from signing up for health coverage when they find out they're expecting, or changing plans for coverage that better meets their needs. Our Healthy MOM Act will fix this gap and take a small but important step to help more women get the prenatal care they need to stay healthy," said Sen. Patty Murray. In 2016, New York became the first state to make pregnancy a qualifying event for a special enrollment period, allowing pregnant women to obtain or change their health insurance plan outside of the annual open enrollment period, even if they are already covered. This gives women the ability to enroll in, switch, or select a new health plan when they become pregnant to better meet their evolving health care needs. Policies like this strengthen New York's ability to support pregnant women, and implementing similar policies at the federal level would extend these protections to women across the country. Sen. Gillibrand has long championed legislation to make pregnancy more affordable and safer. Earlier this year, she introduced a bill to make childbirth free for families with private insurance. She also champions the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, a package of 13 bills – including her Moms Matter Act – that aims to address the Black maternal mortality crisis and reduce racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health care. The Healthy MOM Act is endorsed by Chamber of Mothers, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, National Partnership for Women and Families, MomsRising, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and March of Dimes. Read the full text here.

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Introduced legislation would expand health care for pregnant women

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