Planned Parenthood Advocate

New Minnesota health care exchange signed into law

Governor Dayton signed into law the Minnesota Insurance Marketplace Act on Wednesday, creating a new health insurance marketplace increasing accessibility for Minnesota women and families.

Nearly 1.3 million Minnesotans, including 300,000 currently uninsured, will benefit from the passage of this law. According the Health Reform Minnesota website, that’s 1 in 5 Minnesotans.

Health insurance will be available online through a consumer-oriented marketplace called MNsure, beginning in 2014. Consumers can enroll in the exchange starting in October.

A key element in implementing President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, the health insurance exchange bill passed in the Senate Monday and in the House last week.

Policies in the Minnesota marketplace will be required to cover comprehensive women's preventive health services with no co-pays. Women will have increased access to life-saving cancer screenings, birth control, and Pap tests.  

The bill remained contentious through House and Senate proceedings, particularly concerning an amendment that would prohibit health care plans in the exchange from providing abortion coverage. After passing in the House, the amendment was ultimately cut from the final version of the bill.

The marketplace will be run by a seven-member governor-appointed board. Gov. Dayton has until April 30th to appoint board members, which already includes Health and Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson.

 

For more info, check out: 

The MNsure website

MPR's Daily Circuit reporting on the Minnesota health insurance exchange

 

- by Shieva, Web Correspondent, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund

Senators Franken and Klobuchar urge Secretary Kerry to support women's rights worldwide

In honor of International Women’s Day, Minnesota's Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, along with 21 of their colleagues, called on Secretary of State John Kerry to prioritize gender equality and women’s rights in the U.S. foreign policy agenda.

A letter written by Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg D-N.J., and signed by his constituents, spoke to the necessary advancement of women’s empowerment, and the leadership role the U.S. plays in such advances. Calling on Secretary Kerry to further funding for international family planning and to promote girls’ education around the world, the letter also urged the participation of women and girls in political processes.

“We must continue to build on the progress made to advance the political, economic, social, and civil status of women and girls over the past four years,” Sen. Lautenberg wrote. “These actions are critical components of our efforts to promote global stability, peace, and economic growth.”

Planned Parenthood MN, ND, SD Action Fund would like to thank Sen. Klobuchar, Sen. Franken, and Sen. Lautenberg for their support of international women’s rights, and their dedication to advancing gender equality for all women and girls.

 

- by Shieva, Web Correspondent, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund

Senate vote Thursday - Contact your Senator NOW!

On Monday night the Minnesota House of Representatives voted to ban health insurance plans participating in Minnesota's online insurance exchange from covering abortion.  This isn't good news. And tomorrow, Thursday, March 7, your senator will take up a similar vote.

Will you take a minute right now to urge your senator to oppose any amendment to the insurance exchange bill that would prohibit health insurance plans from offering abortion coverage?

However we feel about abortion, politicians should not interfere with a woman's ability to make her own important health care decisions in consultation with her family, her physician and her faith.

Click here to send your senator a quick note.

Planned Parenthood strongly supports the Minnesota Legislature's efforts to establish the insurance exchange and we want to ensure that it expands access to care without restricting abortion access.

Please take a minute to drop a quick note right now before the senate cast their votes on this important health insurance legislation.

- Alison, Minnesota Public Affairs Manager, Planned Parenthood Action Fund

Ensuring choice on the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange - Act Now!

This past week, we’ve asked our supporters to contact their representatives because today, the Minnesota House of Representatives will debate the best way to establish an on-line health insurance exchange through which thousand of Minnesotans will gain access to affordable health insurance coverage.

And with an amendment to the health insurance exchange that would prohibit health insurance plans from offering abortion coverage, there's a lot at stake today!

However we feel about abortion, politicians should not interfere with a woman's ability to make her own important health care decisions in consultation with her family, her physician and her faith. 

Planned Parenthood strongly supports the Minnesota Legislature’s efforts to establish this exchange.  We also want to ensure that these health insurance exchange bills do not restrict abortion access.

If you agree that politicians and ideologies should not interfere with a woman's personal decision making, then please take a minute to tell your representative how you feel.

For a detailed rundown on what the exchange is, who would use it, how it would operate, and how much it will cost, you can read the House of Representatives’ session daily, charting the Minnesota Insurance Marketplace’s long road to the House floor. Stay tuned as these bills and amendments move through the Minnesota Capitol, and be sure your representative represents you!

- Alison, Minnesota Public Affairs Manager

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. One in three teens will experience an abusive relationship and two thirds of them will never report it. The “Love is Respect” campaign is the ultimate resource on healthy relationships for teens and young adults. The campaign is a partnership between Break the Cycle, the leading national non-profit addressing teen dating violence and the National Dating Abuse Helpline. The helpline can be reached many ways- live chat is available, or you can text “loveis” to 77054 or call 1-866-331-9474 (1-866-331-8453 TTY).

Intimate partner violence and reproductive health are closely linked and should be addressed together. Many people who experience intimate partner violence also experience reproductive and sexual coercion. Planned Parenthood works to reduce these rates through education, training, screening, and advocacy.