Why do we need Rosie’s Law?

Currently, barriers to abortion and contraception access exist due to government-imposed insurance coverage bans. For example, Texas prohibits any form of insurance from covering abortion care and bans Medicaid coverage for emergency contraception. Additionally, many aspects of contraceptive care are not currently required to be covered by all insurance providers, which can create a significant barrier to care. This includes the removal of birth control devices like IUDs and arm implants, counseling to help people make informed choices on the best form of contraception for them, pain and anxiety management for the insertion and removal of birth control devices, and counseling to help people make a decision about the best form of pain and anxiety management for them during the device insertion or removal process.

Rosie’s Law would address these issues by removing existing coverage bans, expanding the types of care that insurance must cover to align with best practices, and prohibiting cost-sharing requirements like copays. 

Who would Rosie’s Law impact?

Rosie’s Law would impact Texans with insurance who need access to abortion and contraceptive care. This would especially benefit low-income Texans with Medicaid, ensuring they have access to care they might not otherwise be able to afford.

There are more than 700,000 Texas women of reproductive age enrolled in Medicaid and over 3.5 million Texas women of reproductive age with private insurance who would gain easier access to contraception and abortion care if Rosie’s Law were passed.

How could abortion be covered by insurance if abortion is currently illegal?

While Texas law currently bans abortion in most cases, a small number of Texans do receive legal abortion care in emergency situations. Rosie’s Law would guarantee that insured Texans would not have to pay out of pocket costs for this care. As the legality of abortion is expanded through future legislative or congressional action, the impact of Rosie’s Law would also naturally expand. 

Why would passing Rosie’s Law matter if abortion is still illegal?

Rosie’s Law would greatly expand access to contraceptive care for millions of Texans! While the abortion component of Rosie’s Law would currently impact a limited number of cases due to the existing Texas abortion ban, as the legality of abortion is expanded through future legislative or congressional action, the impact of Rosie’s Law would also naturally expand.

What is the point of advocating for Rosie’s Law if it won’t pass under the current political landscape?

Polling shows that a majority of Texans already believe that everyone should be able to access a full spectrum of reproductive healthcare including contraception and abortion no matter how much money they make or how they get their health insurance. Texans support Rosie’s Law and they deserve to be heard at the legislature.