NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — An effort is underway in the Tennessee Legislature to protect health coverage for the state’s pregnant employees following their termination.
Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis) introduced Senate Bill 190, which would require an employer who fires a pregnant woman enrolled in the company’s health benefit plan to continue providing coverage until her pregnancy ends.
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“Especially in Tennessee, when we have no rights to abortion at all anymore, you’re forced to have kids,” Lamar said. “It should not mean you have to lose your job, but if you do, that puts you at risk of not being able to access the healthcare services that you need to have a healthy baby.”
Within thirty days after the end of their pregnancy, the former hire must sign a written statement to their employer. If they fail to do so, the employer then has the right to seek recovery of costs incurred for maintaining the employee’s health coverage.
Lamar told News 2 that her goal is to ensure companies are not using pregnancy as an excuse to chip away at their payroll.
“The baby should not suffer because you don’t want to continue to employ a person who’s pregnant,” Lamar said.
If passed, the bill would take effect on July 1.
