Check out our state-by-state information and resources on how to file a complaint in your state.
Have you seen the advertisements: “Pregnant? Scared? We can help?” They’re everywhere. Unfortunately, far too often a woman finds herself with an unintended pregnancy, isn’t sure what her options are, and calls the number on the billboard. These numbers often lead to “crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs)” or “pregnancy resource centers.” Not always, but more often than not, these centers are set up to look like legitimate health clinics. But, they aren’t; instead, many give misleading information or flat out lie to the woman about her pregnancy in order to dissuade her from getting an abortion.
Do you think women deserve honest, unbiased medical information when they are seeking care? So do we. These crisis centers can only be stopped if women speak up about the false information they are receiving during their visits. If you, a family member, or friend was tricked or lied to by a CPC, we have an easy way for you to file a consumer protection complaint to help document the harmful practices of these clinics.
For help filing this complaint, you also can contact the National Women’s Law Center at 1-855-CPC-FACT or cpcfact@nwlc.org. Filing a complaint is a first and very important step in helping other women, including your family and friends, protect their health.
When women ask questions about their health or seek services, they deserve to get complete, unbiased, and medically accurate answers. Dishonest CPCs prevent women from making informed health care decisions and threaten their health. When you’re facing a decision about a pregnancy, time is crucial. Lies, inaccurate facts and delays can be harmful to your health.
It’s important to speak up — for the sake of all women.
For more information about CPCs, check out our state-by-state resources. Thank you for all that you do to protect women’s reproductive health.
Tell the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that insurance companies provide maternity care for all women.
Millions of young women get health insurance coverage through their parents’ plans — but even though their parents’ policies include maternity benefits, not all of these daughters have access to maternity coverage. This means many pregnant women are without the care they need, when they need it the most. Your voice is needed. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is creating rules for insurance companies in the individual and small group markets under the new health care law. As part of this effort, they will take comments from the public about what services insurance companies must cover. Tell HHS to ensure insurance companies provide maternity coverage to women who get their health care coverage through their policy.
Maternity care leads to healthier moms and healthier babies. And health insurance coverage for these services provides financial security and peace of mind to women and their families. On average, a woman without maternity coverage will spend at least $10,000 on maternity care, a huge financial burden at the time when she’s bringing a child into the world. We’ve made a lot of progress — but there’s still more to be done. Send in your comments and ensure that insurance companies are required to provide maternity coverage for all individuals.
The National Women’s Law Center shined a spotlight on the fact that when women buy health coverage directly from insurance companies, only twelve percent of those health plans cover maternity care. With your help, we’ll continue the important fight to ensure all women have maternity coverage when they need it.
Thank you for all you do to ensure women have access to quality, affordable health care.
Sincerely,
Judy WaxmanVice President for Health and Reproductive RightsNational Women’s Law Center
Did you hear the good news?
Last week, the Senate introduced the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to ensure that pregnant women aren’t forced out of their jobs.
But just because a bill was introduced doesn’t mean it will move unless we turn the pressure up. That’s where you come in. Take Action: Please Contact Your Members of Congress today and ask them to co-sponsor the bill. The more co-sponsors, the more likely this bill will move forward.
Forty years ago, women were expected to quit their jobs when they became pregnant. Back then, pregnancy was widely regarded as a disabling condition.
Today, it is now a well-accepted fact that most women remain perfectly healthy and able to work throughout their pregnancies, and since 1978 pregnancy discrimination has been illegal. Yet women in physically demanding jobs are STILL being forced out of the workplace, just because they need temporary, minor modifications to their job duties during pregnancy. As a result, expectant mothers are losing their jobs when they can least afford it.
Here are three startling examples:
Heather got fired from Wal-Mart for carrying a water bottle.
Natasha was forced onto unpaid leave and then fired because her district manager at Rent-A-Center found out she needed help with occasional heavy lifting on the sales floor.
Sarah lost her job at a fast food restaurant for taking bathroom and water breaks.
And what do all of these women have in common? All three needed only minor accommodations to continue safely working during pregnancy. But because their employers refused, all three were forced out of work. That’s why we need to build support for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Please join us by asking your Members of Congress to co-sponsor the bill.
Thank you for your help!
Sincerely,
P.S. Fired up? Help spread the word by forwarding this action alert to friends, family and colleagues.
P.P.S. Need more info? Check out NWLC’s resources on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.
Decisions about your birth control are personal. But some politicians want to put those decisions in the hands of your boss. Learn more and find out how you can take action at https://www.ThisIsPersonal.org.
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