TRENTON, N.J., January 7 – Insurance companies with employee health plan drug coverage must now pay for prescription contraceptives under a bill signed into law by acting Governor Richard J. Codey.

The increased costs just for the State Health Benefits Program would be $6.2 million more in three years, according to a cost estimate by the Office of Legislative services.

The measure, a Senate committee substitute for Senate Bills 556, 600, and 748, was sponsored by 35 of the 120 legislators and cleared both houses in the waning days of the current Legislature.

Controversy, But No Debate

Despite the controversy over the issue, final passage and enactment was done with little or no debate, no public comment and no fanfare by the officials involved.

When it was up before the Legislature however there were public demonstrations in front of the statehouse by pro and anti groups on the issues of contraceptives, Planned Parenthood, and birth control.

The new law goes into effect in six months.

The exact increased cost for the entire population with drug prescription coverage could not be made but the increased costs to those in the State Health Benefits program would be $4.7 million in the first year of the program, $5.4 million in the second year and $6.2 million in the third.

The Office of Legislative services fiscal report said the division of Pensions estimates an additional 120,000 more prescription drug claims would be filed each year because of the new law.

The State Health Benefits Program reaches out to five county governments, 302 school districts, 23 charter schools, 311 municipalities and 28 authorities commissioners and state agencies, the OLS reported.

Estimates of increased costs for the entire health insurance sector in the state was not made by the OLS because of lack of data.

The new law exempts churches or religious schools from providing the benefit if the coverage conflicts with religious beliefs and practices.