Copyright 2000 The New York Times Company
The New
York Times
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December 20, 2000, Wednesday, Late Edition -
Final
SECTION: Section A; Page 34; Column
4; Editorial Desk
LENGTH: 176 words
HEADLINE: Equality in Health Care: The Fight Must Go On
BODY:
To the Editor:
Re "Agency Finds
Many Health Plans Should Cover Contraceptive Costs" (front
page, Dec. 15):
The ruling by the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission is unfortunately only a partial victory for equity in women's health
care. Full equity in contraceptive coverage will likely
continue to be fought for only at the court level, rather than being guaranteed
by federal law. Millions of American women must choose between paying for
contraceptives themselves or using less effective or no
contraception. The United States has one of the highest abortion rates among
industrialized nations, yet as deplorable as this is to those in both the
abortion rights and anti-abortion movements, some interest groups still wage war
against common-sense family planning measures.
In 1998, Congress
required insurance plans participating in the health plan for
federal employees to cover all prescription contraceptives. It
is time that Congress enacted a similar mandate for the rest of the nation.
SARAH DASH
New Haven, Dec. 16, 2000
http://www.nytimes.com
LOAD-DATE: December 20,
2000 
