Budget also Includes Family Planning Dollars

Created by: Jillian

This year, NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut testified before numerous committees at the Connecticut General Assembly in favor of a Family Planning Waiver, Medicaid coverage for family planning services to individuals in households with income up to 185% of the Federal Poverty Level who are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid. Currently, in order to be eligible for medicaid you must already have children or be expecting a child.

When states put money toward a Family Planning Waiver, they receive a 90% federal Medicaid match—when the state’s normal federal medicaid match is 50%.

The objectives of the family planning waiver are to:

· Increase the availability and proper use of effective contraceptive methods,

· Increase the spacing between pregnancies,

· Decrease the number of unintended pregnancies,

· Decrease the number of Medicaid paid pregnancies and deliveries, and

· Improve reproductive health.

In the recently passed Democratic Budget, $2 million dollars was allocated for the Family Planning Waiver in the first year and $4 million in the second. We are once again so thankful and appreciative to the Connecticut General Assembly for passing a budget that recognizes the importance of investing in women's preventative reproductive health.

Thank you!