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Dems Say Businesses Should Warn Employees About To Lose Contraception Coverage

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Democrats in the Legislature say women should get 90 days advance warning if their employers are about to drop contraception coverage from company-provided insurance policies.

We have more from The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Rick Pluta.

The legislation is a response to the US Supreme Court’s decision in the Hobby Lobby case. The court said business owners don’t have to cover contraception if they have a sincere moral objection.

State Representative Gretchen Driskell says women deserve time to make other arrangements if that’s the case. She says birth control drugs have more medical uses than just stopping pregnancies.

       “It’s not just contraception,” she says.  “There’s a lot of women who use contraception for other issues that are health-related, that are pretty serious.”

For example, some birth control methods have been linked to reduced risk of ovarian cancer.

The legislation is not a high priority for the Legislature’s Republican leadership.

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Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.