As a woman also a single mother, the costs of basic feminine hygiene products have brought about unnecessary distress and financial strain. It is a struggle shared by many others; the average woman in her lifetime spends an estimated $6,360 on menstruation-related items, from sanitary pads to pain relievers (Duvall, K., 2019). 

Meanwhile, health insurance plans provide coverage for various medical necessities, such as adult diapers, but feminine hygiene products—for which there is no alternative—remains excluded. This is a glaring disparity, hitting hardest those from lower income households. It undermines the basic wellness of nearly half the population, adding unnecessary financial strain to a natural, biological process. 

It's time we recognized these essential items for what they are, a basic healthcare necessity. Let us mandate that all health insurance plans provide coverage for feminine hygiene products, relieving millions of women from this extra, unfair financial burden. The health & financial disparity of too many women is at stake. Please, sign this petition. Show you stand for equal healthcare coverage and well-being for all.