Medicaid

• Reduce the number of unintended pregnancies. Currently, states are required to provide Medicaid pregnancy-related care to thousands of low-income women, but many of these same women are not eligible for birth control under Medicaid if they want to prevent a pregnancy. Closing the gap will have a tremendous impact on women and their families, enabling them to plan the timing and spacing of their pregnancies. 
• Help low-income women access the care they need. Low-income women are far more likely to have an unintended pregnancy because of their lack of access to health care. The Unintended Pregnancy Reduction Act would expand coverage of Medicaid family planning services to women and men who have the same income level as those who are eligible for pregnancy-related care.
• Save state and federal government money. Every dollar spent on family planning services saves three dollars in pregnancy and birth-related costs for Medicaid alone. According to the Guttmacher Institute, this legislation would save states and the federal government more than $1.5 billion annually after the first three years of implementation.

Planned Parenthood supports the passage of the Unintended Pregnancy Reduction Act of 2007 (S. 1075/H.R. 2523). It is a commonsense solution that can have an enormous positive impact on the health and well-being of women, families, and communities. 

Join the Planned Parenthood Action Network and stand with us to expand Medicaid coverage for birth control. Help end the family planning divide!