Zwicker, Murphy & Sumter Bill Protecting Women’s Rights to Healthcare Coverage of Contraceptives Under State-Based Health Exchange Now Law

(TRENTON) – Legislation revising state law to require healthcare coverage of contraceptives sponsored by Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker (D-Somerset, Mercer, Middlesex, Hunterdon), Carol Murphy (D-Burlington) and Shavonda Sumter (D-Bergen, Passaic) was signed into law Thursday.

The law (formerly bill A-5508) provides that health insurance carriers and the State Health Benefits Program subject to the law will be required to provide coverage for certain services, drugs, devices, products and procedures, including contraceptive drugs, devices and products approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, subject to certain conditions.

The Assembly sponsors issued the following joint statement upon the bill becoming law:

“Federal changes to the Affordable Care Act aimed to jeopardize women’s access to safe, preventive care. This law will remove those obstacles in New Jersey and preserve the benefits afforded to residents’ under the ACA. With this law, women will continue to have insurance that covers contraception without having to pay out of pocket.”