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Thank DE Senators - HIMMAA bill defeated
HIMMAA is defeated!
On May 11, 2006, the US Senate failed to come to an agreement to vote on S. 1955 the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act (HIMMAA), thus effectively defeating this harmful legislation. HIMMAA is a bill that would have had a serious and damaging impact on health coverage for women across the United States by allowing insurance companies to ignore nearly all state laws that require insurance coverage for certain treatments or prescriptions, such as cervical cancer screenings or birth control.
Our Senators Biden and Carper both voted against HIMMAA. Thank you to all of our supporters who contacted the Senators to voice their opposition to HIMMAA. Due in part to our efforts, this bill is no longer a threat! Unfortunately, the Senators have been taking a lot of heat for their "No" vote from HIMMAA supporters.
NOW TAKE ACTION!! We need to thank our Senators and let them know they did the right thing by opposing HIMMAA and the harmful regulations it would put in place.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Thank you for opposing HIMMA
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Thank you for voting against cloture on HIMMAA (S. 1955). This bill would have had a serious and damaging impact on health coverage for Americans, especially women. Under HIMMAA, Delaware women could have lost contraceptive equity protections currently guaranteed by state law, among other protections. Considering that contraception and reproductive health are such important components of women's health care, it is essential that a bill like HIMMAA never get passed.
Thank you again for your vote against HIMMAA.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
May 25, 2006
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What is HIMMAA?
HIMMAA (the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act, S. 1955) is a bill that would have a serious and damaging impact on health coverage for women across the United States. HIMMAA, also known as the "Lose your Benefits Bill," was introduced by Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) and would allow insurance companies to ignore nearly all state laws that require insurance coverage for certain treatments, conditions, or prescriptions.
What would be affected by HIMMAA?
Women’s health care coverage would have been among the hardest hit by this law, nullifying hundreds of state laws that ensure patients get the medical care they need. The law would have potentially:
- blocked direct access to ob/gyn care
- dismantled coverage for contraception
- dismantled coverage for annual cervical and ovarian cancer exams
- prevented women from staying with the same doctor throughout a pregnancy, if that doctor were dropped from the insurance provider's plan.
For years, many insurance plans covered prescription drugs, but refused to cover birth control pills and other prescription contraceptives for women. In the past decade, lawmakers in 23 states have remedied this inequity and enacted contraceptive coverage laws. Under HIMMAA, women would have lost contraceptive equity protections currently guaranteed by state law.
How was HIMMAA defeated?
On May 11, 2006, the US Senate voted on whether to have a final vote on HIMMAA, S. 1955, called a cloture vote. Fortunately, more than 40 Senators voted against cloture, and thus, the legislation was effectively defeated for now. Delaware Senators Biden and Carper both voted against this dangerous bill.
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