Letter to NY State of Health regarding Reproductive Health Care Coverage

SUMMARY

The Sex and Law Committee submitted a letter to the New York State Department of Health in response to plans announced by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) following news that one of the providers on the New York health exchange, Health Republic, was shutting down. The announcement stated that, starting December 1st, all Health Republic customers, except for those living in the Rochester area or Ulster County, would be automatically enrolled (“auto-enrolled”) in Fidelis Care. The Committee expressed concern about this plan of auto-enrollment because Fidelis Care is the only plan in the marketplace that does not provide comprehensive reproductive healthcare services. To this point, the Committee urged that the New York State Department of Health, NYSOH, and NYDFS should assist consumers in securing alternative healthcare options that include comprehensive reproductive healthcare.