National Women’s
Law Center

Campaign for The National Women's Law Center to get women involved in the health care debate and influence Congress to pass reform legislation.

The Challenge

The current Health Care debate lacked the voice of women and their advocates. Millions of women in the United States depend on the health care system and they face unfair insurance industry practices, have trouble affording necessary care, and struggle to find insurance that covers the benefits they need. Even though more than 76% of women said they thought our current health care system should be reformed or radically changed, most women had not joined the debate. And most women had no idea how the current insurance market discriminates against them.

Creative Direction, Campaign development, Social activation + Advocacy

Woman with shoulder-length brown hair holding a microphone at a protest or rally, wearing a white T-shirt that reads 'Woman is not a pre-existing condition' with various signs and slogans in the background.

The Results

The campaign generated over 99,600 letters and calls to Congress, and it's influence was proven when members of Congress adopted our tagline. 

“The insurance companies take being a woman as a pre-existing condition,” Ms. Mikulski said. “We face so many issues and hurdles. We can’t get health care. We can’t get health insurance because of pre-existing conditions called a C-section.” - Senator Barbara Mikulski

Quoted in The New York Times.

The Strategy

We appropriated Health Care lingo, and created the Being A Woman is Not A Pre-existing Condition campaign, to loudly call-out the discrimination women face when trying to get Health Care.

Graphic with a stylized female figure and the text 'Deny This' stamped across, followed by the bold statement 'Being a woman is not a pre-existing condition'.
Three women wearing white t-shirts with the slogan 'A Woman Is Not a Pre-Existing Condition' are engaged in conversation at an event, with a backdrop displaying the same slogan.
A woman speaking at a podium during a rally or event, with a sign that reads "National Women's Law Center" and "Being a woman is not a pre-existing condition". She is flanked by four women, some wearing T-shirts with the same message.
Group of women and children wearing 'A Woman's Place Is in the House and in the Senate' t-shirts standing on steps in front of the United States Capitol building.
Woman being interviewed by a man holding an RTV microphone outside the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
The image shows a medical or health insurance form with the phrase "HEALTH CARE ISN'T FAIR" written across it in bold, black letters.
A scanned document with a large red "DENIED" stamp across it. The document appears to be a form related to health care expenses and claims, with text detailing eligibility, billing, and reimbursement policies.
A document with the bold statement 'WOMEN PAY MORE' in large black font, with a form section above and details related to signature verification and personal information at the bottom.
A medical insurance form with a large red "REJECTED" stamp diagonally across it.
Text demanding health care reform and promoting a woman's not pre-existing condition. Logo of the National Women's Law Center.
Group of women wearing white T-shirts with the slogan "A WOMAN IS NOT A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION" at a protest or rally.
Group of women and young women wearing matching white T-shirts with the slogan "A WOMAN IS NOT A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION" standing in front of a backdrop with the same message.

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