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Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner

Women's Direct Access

Under state law, health insurance companies must give female patients direct access to women's health care providers and to self-refer to services, such as:

  • Maternity care
  • Reproductive health services
  • Gynecological care
  • General exams
  • Preventive care

Women’s health care providers include:

  • Licensed specialty doctors, such as gynecologists and obstetricians
  • Licensed physician assistants or registered nurse practitioners specializing in women's health and midwifery

Your health insurance company must allow you to:

  • Choose a participating women's health care provider from its network provider list
  • Self-refer to a network provider to receive women's health care services



Updated 05/04/2012

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Need more help? Call our FREE Insurance Consumer Hotline at 1-800-562-6900
or Email us at cap@oic.wa.gov.