CLUW joins the National Women's Law Center in celebrating the tenth anniversary of the important Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ruling in support of "contraceptive equity" -- that is, the ruling that it is illegal sex discrimination for some employer-sponsored health insurance plans to cover prescriptions and preventive care but not to cover contraceptives for women. The ruling was in response to a petition filed by the National Women's Law Center.

That ruling was the impetus for CLUW to put its support of contraceptive equity into direct action by creating its own Contraceptive Equity Project -- thanks to financial support from a number of foundations and the advice and counsel of the NWLC and Planned Parenthood.
 
The ruling and the number of Americans (particularly union members) whose health insurance plans now have contraceptive equity were major victories. But our work is not done, as some employers have resisted, and we continue to hear from far too many women who do not have coverage for the contraceptives they need.
 
We, therefore, still need to make sure that the EEOC is doing all it can do to enforce its landmark ruling, and that women receive the full protection of the law.

CLUW is pleased to join the NWLC campaign to tell the EEOC to focus on enforcing this important protection.

FYI, CLUW also is working with the NWLC on its new campaign to make sure the new health care law fulfills its promise of guaranteeing insurance coverage of contraceptives for all women regardless of employer coverage. You will be hearing more about this in the next few weeks.
 
Let's honor this important anniversary by asking the EEOC to ensure that women receive the contraceptive coverage from their employers to which they are legally entitled.
 
Thank you for your continued commitment to health care that works for American women and their families.

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To learn more about CLUW, visit www.cluw.org.