Contraceptive Equity

CORTLANDT, NEW YORK

Local 2343 (Council 66) has won a victory that will help hundreds of families. It all started with one member, Arlene Curing a, who wondered why her prescription plan did not cover prescription contraceptives.

New York state law requires plans covering prescription drugs to also cover prescription contraceptives. But many self-insured entities, like the Town of Cortlandt, had found a loophole. With help from the International, Local 2343 worked to persuade Cortlandt to extend the coverage. AFSCME also enlisted the state attorney general's office, which began negotiations with Cortlandt and the 16 other self-insured entities that were part of Cortlandt's health care consortium.

Local 2343 abandoned plans to file suit with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission when an agreement was reached with the health care consortium — offering the protection to members of Local 2343 and many other AFSCME affiliates who are part of the group.