In 2015, NoHLA and NARAL Pro-Choice Washington co-authored a report examining how health insurers in the Washington Health Benefit Exchange were complying with the ACA’s contraceptive coverage requirement and making recommendations for improvements.

This year, we checked the health insurers’ progress by reviewing formularies, website content, contraceptive waiver policies, and access to emergency contraception. We also performed spot check calls to sales and customer service representatives, with the help of Legal Voice. We discovered that most health insurers have responded to our recommendations: they have clarified comprehensive contraceptive coverage options for consumers by creating informational flyers and improving information in their formularies. Many have adopted or simplified their procedures for approving non-formulary contraceptives. However, spot check calls to customer service and sales representatives revealed that some were still providing inaccurate information to consumers that often contradicted what was on their websites. This indicates a need for additional training.

The report breaks down the results and recommendations for each insurer providing individual health coverage on Washington Healthplanfinder. Most of the erroneous information came from customer service representatives who told incorrectly informed women that they would have to pay cost-sharing for emergency contraception and medical methods of contraception (subdermal implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs)).

Health insurers have made significant progress communicating contraceptive coverage information to consumers. We hope that they will implement the additional recommendations in this new progress report.

Executive Summary

Full Report

Contraceptive Coverage in Washington State’s Qualified Health Plans - 2015 Report