Recently, I rode a bus to Olympia with Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest on Lobby Day to meet with Sen. Rodney Tom.

Let me be clear: I am not an activist. I am not even a volunteer with Planned Parenthood or NARAL Pro-Choice America. I am, however, very concerned about women’s health care, and I felt I could make a difference talking to my senator face to face.

I’m concerned because if the Reproductive Parity Act does not pass, there may be more than the two current insurance plans that do not cover abortion in Washington. What happens if a woman purchases one of those plans and is raped? Will she be expected to pay for the rape out of pocket, or as is done in Michigan, purchase the unthinkable “rape rider” on her insurance plan ahead of time — just in case?

Please safeguard us from insurance companies deciding to drop abortion coverage. They might do this because they feel pressure from the far right. If insurance companies in Washington drop abortion coverage, they are making abortion less accessible to the women in this state.

Unfortunately, I never got a chance to express my concern to Sen. Tom because he abruptly canceled the pre-scheduled meeting. Even his staff would not talk to me or the eight other constituents.

It is time Sen. Tom stops putting his far-right Republican caucus before the interest of his constituents. Women’s health matters. Please pass the Reproductive Parity Act.

Katie Dreyfuss, Redmond