Women's Health and Oral Contraceptives Coverage:

January 2007 issue

Illinois state law mandates that oral contraceptives have to be included in insurance company coverage plans that provide prescription drugs (March 1, 2003, Sun Times Springfield Bureau, pg 3). However, religious organizations pushed for legislation to provide an exemption from the state law (Chicago Daily Herald, May 21, 2004, pg. 15). I am certain that DePaul's arrangements with the insurance companies not to cover birth control prescriptions are based on the fact that it is a Catholic institution. However, with the university's recent announcement that it will provide health benefits for domestic partners of employees (a great decision on the part of the university) I would like to see this same attitude applied to women's health issues.

Response

Source: Gary Miller
Title: AVP-Benefits and Staff Compensation
Unit/Department: Human Resources
Extension: 2-8501
Email: gmille11@depaul.edu

Response: In the fully insured medical plan, HMO Illinois, which must comply with Illinois state regulations, contraceptive coverage is provided. In the other plans which are selfinsured and is not subject to state mandates, such coverage is not provided. DePaul has had this configuration for a number of years. Your representative on the University Compensation and Benefits Committee (UBCC) should be contacted and informed that this issue should be on the committee's agenda for review.

UBCC Reps:
Staff Representatives:
• Lon Batelli
• Donna Del Giudice
• Lauren Schielke

Faculty Representatives:
• Phyllis Griffin
• Tom Donley
• Barbara Speicher

Other:
• Kelly Johnson - Academic Affairs
• Ortiz, Elizabeth - Diversity
• William Seithel – Chair (Human Resources)
• Bob Kozoman – CFO