Domestic Violence as a Pre-Existing Condition

As the national spotlight shines on health care reform legislation it is worth turning our attention to laws affecting domestic violence and insurance coverage. In 2008 the National Women's Law Center reported that in nine states: Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia, it is legal for insurance companies to deny coverage to women who have been victims of domestic violence. In April 2009 Arkansas outlawed the practice, leaving eight states and D.C.

Ryan Grim at the Huffington Post writes "Under the cold logic of the insurance industry, it makes perfect sense: If you are in a marriage with someone who has beaten you in the past, you're more likely to get beaten again than the average person and are therefore more expensive to insure" (read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/14/when-getting-beaten-by-yo_n_286029.html)

Under health care reform legislation currently being negotiated in the Senate, denial of coverage based on any pre-existing condition may be outlawed. Until such a measure passes or goes into affect please contact your representatives in Congress and let them know this unconscionable discrimination against victims of violence must end:


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