Mae Flexer

Flexer Leads Final Passage of Bill Protecting 10 Essential Health Benefits for Women

Senator Mae Flexer (D-Danielson) last night stood up against attacks on healthcare from Republicans in Washington, DC and led final passage of legislation that protects and expands mandated health benefits for women, children and adolescents in Connecticut.

House Bill 5210 passed the Senate 34-2 and ensures that insurance policies offered in Connecticut must cover the “10 Essential Health Benefits” protected in the federal Affordable Care Act.

These benefits include:

• outpatient care
• trips to the emergency room
• prenatal care and ongoing care for the baby throughout its childhood
• prescription medicine
• lab tests
• mental health services
• substance use disorder services.

House bill 5210 also preserves women’s access to contraception with no out of pocket cost—even if the Trump administration ever succeeds in killing “Obamacare.”

“Connecticut must stand up against attacks from Washington, DC on the healthcare women in our state rely on,” said Sen. Flexer. “This legislation protects and expands upon women’s access to basic healthcare for themselves and their children. It also aims to end the healthcare disparity that results in less access to care and higher rates of maternal mortality in underserved communities, and it protects the ten essential health benefits that provide everyone in our state with access to basic, preventive healthcare access. With the passage of this legislation, Connecticut has stood up to those who would strip away health care from our residents. ”

The bill, which previously passed the House 114-32, now heads to Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s desk for his signature.