South Dakota Planned Parenthood Advocate

SCOTUS Upholds the Affordable Care Act: What this Means for Women

In a tremendous victory for all Americans, the Supreme Court upheld the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA), an act that extends health care coverage and seeks to eliminate the barriers to receiving affordable medical care.  While this ruling will impact the lives of all Americans, it has an especially powerful effect on women’s health care.

Under the current health care system, women can be denied coverage for having had a C-Section, breast cancer, or even for having been sexually assaulted.  The ACA changes this and ensures that insurance companies cannot deny coverage based upon a pre-existing condition. 

Additionally, the ACA ends the practice of charging women more for insurance simply because they are women.  This widespread practice, currently present in 90% of top insurance providers, costs women more than $1 billion dollars annually, with some companies charging women 85% more than their male counterparts.

Planned Parenthood Congratulates North Dakotans Against Measure Three on Election Night Victory

Over the past several weeks, health care providers, former judges, prosecutors, doctors, lawyers, child advocates, victim advocates, religious leaders and social workers from all across the state joined together to help North Dakotans Against Measure Three raise awareness about the so called "Religious Liberty Restoration Amendment." Tonight, voters overwhelmingly rejected the measure.

Statement from Sarah Stoesz, President of the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund

“Planned Parenthood has been working in North Dakota for many years, and the health and well being of North Dakota’s families is so important to us. Our deepest congratulations go to North Dakotans Against Measure Three for this victory.

“Tonight, North Dakotans – with a strong and clear NO vote – affirmed that religious liberty is securely protected in the US Constitution. Measure Three was divisive, unnecessary and could have had dangerous consequences. Tonight’s vote protects state laws against child abuse or neglect, laws against domestic violence, laws that affect access to health care, including birth control, and laws that ensure equal opportunity in the workplace.”

“We applaud North Dakotans Against Measure Three for working tirelessly to educate voters about the dangerous consequences this amendment could have had for women and families in the state.”