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Congressman David Scott (GA-13), chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, today issued the below statement following House passage of the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act, legislation he supported which expands access to basic reproductive health care for women veterans:

“Choosing when, or if, to have a family is essential to women’s health and to their economic security. It is unacceptable that in the 21st century, more than 2 million women veterans are being denied fair access to basic reproductive health care,” said Congressman David Scott. “Today, I am proud to join my colleagues in taking steps to right this wrong by eliminating the additional costs women veterans are charged by VA health services for basic contraception that is already available to other Americans.”

BACKGROUND

The Affordable Care Act guarantees women enrolled in civilian health insurance plans access to contraceptive services without a co-pay, while active duty servicemembers can access contraception without co-pays through TRICARE.  However, the VA still requires co-pays for contraception, denying veterans fair access to these essential services.

This coverage gap unfairly disadvantages female veterans, who now make up the fastest growing group enrolling in VA health care.  This legislation ensures they receive the same access to contraceptive care as civilian women covered under the ACA and active-duty women in the armed forces.

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