By JoAnn Volk, Rachel Schwab and Dania Palanker

Health care is on people’s minds as the general election approaches. It has historically been a top issue of interest for women voters. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded women’s access to comprehensive coverage, but the Trump administration is seeking to overturn the law in a case before the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the administration has promoted coverage options that are exempt from the ACA’s consumer protections, including short-term plans and health care sharing ministries (HCSMs). In many states, these products can exclude or impose limits on coverage of pre-existing conditions as well as the Essential Health Benefits that ACA plans in the individual and small group market are required to cover.

In a new post for The Commonwealth Fund, CHIR experts examine the differences between ACA plans and these alternative options promoted by the Trump administration to assess coverage of key women’s health services. A review of short-term plan brochures and HCSM member guidelines revealed that these products frequently exclude or severely limit coverage of services that are critical to women’s health, such as preventive services (including contraception), prescription drugs, mental health services and maternity care. This analysis illustrates that women’s access to comprehensive coverage will depend greatly on whether ACA plans remain an available option.

You can read the full post here.