The new health insurance plans that are to become valid starting of August 2012 provide coverage for preventive care in women without a co-pay or deductible. This means that there will be free birth control available, including the morning-after pill through health insurance. The legislation that will kick in from 2012 follows the guidelines announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Things will thus change for women from the distribution of birth control pills to free breast exams.
Insured women will no longer pay for such services out of their pocket. In regard to the new free birth control legislation, Christian groups have expressed their concerns and militated for the introduction of a 'conscience' clause, which was accepted by the federal government.
This means that there is an exemption from covered health plans offering free birth control for religious employers that provide group health plans to their staff members. For instance, a Catholic school will not offer employees an insurance plan that covers contraceptive services. While the availability of free birth control is a major step forward for American women, the exemption mentioned above causes serious concern.
With the issues of free birth control, the government is now striving to reach a balance in providing access to preventive care while respecting religious beliefs at the same time. Heated debate is in progress, and until the legislation is enacted, more needs to be done. Free birth control is available by other channels that have nothing in common with health insurance plans, private or federal. Family planning offices in schools and colleges offer advice and free birth control to teens.
Free birth control is also currently available with various non-profit organizations that support youngsters' sexual education and the needs of low income women who can't afford to pay for birth control and preventive care.
Lots of services are also available for minor teens that don't need their parents' approval to receive medical consultation and make decisions regarding their sexual life. However, parental responsibility remains a great moral issue, because in many families, there is no concern on the adults' part about the way the siblings start their sex life. This explains the high number of babies given for adoption by teenage moms as well as the huge amount of abortions in the teens' ranks.
The free birth control legislation might open new opportunities for women, improve the health of the female population and reduce the number of abortions. Yet it has so many obstacles to overcome too... Let's hope things will turn out for the best!
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