As a young, working woman whose income falls in the coverage gap, I struggle to make ends meet and pay for health insurance. I have had my policy cancelled twice because I couldn’t afford to pay the premiums, and that doesn’t count the $40 co-pay. I now cannot afford a visit to my primary care physician.

Poverty-level incomes may be temporary for many people, but the cost of an unintended pregnancy, cancer that goes unchecked, and the physical pain of managing other preventable and treatable disorders on our own can derail plans for a successful future.

Maine has the chance to help women achieve a better quality of life by passing LD 319 and joining 30 other states that have benefited from the same policy. LD 319 provides access to reproductive health care, including cancer screenings and birth control, to more than 13,000 low-income women who would otherwise forego care. The measure would also save the state millions of dollars in costs associated with unintended pregnancy, which carries a hefty price tag of more than $11 million a year.

If women have access to reproductive care and resources they need, then they have hugely important tools for building success and ensuring a healthy future. For women, access to affordable reproductive health care is an essential part of their overall health, economic security and opportunity.

I hope Sen. Eric Brakey will see the opportunity he has to help women achieve economic success and support LD 319.

Bettina Benoit-Moncure, New Gloucester

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