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Essay / Contraceptive Insurance Coverage - 1941
The refusal of some health insurers to include contraceptives in an insurance plan for women is one of the most controversial disagreements in the health insurance industry . Insurance plans today cover a variety of prescription drugs, but some still do not approve prescription contraceptive drugs and devices. More than half of U.S. state insurance policies require other prescription drugs and FDA-approved contraceptive drugs and devices to be included in their health care plans, along with any related medical services. These services provide annual visits for recommended preventative care and services for women. Although it depends on each state's policies, some states allow employers or insurers to deny contraceptive coverage for religious or moral reasons. Other opponents of birth control simply don't think it's worth raising premiums if insurers covered all common forms of contraceptives. However, a new law now requires insurance companies to offer contraceptives without co-pays or deductibles, as part of the Affordable Care Act. Access to inexpensive contraceptives affects women and their families in ways that many people don't realize. Women should be able to control when they get pregnant because it allows them to go to school and have a career. Unfortunately, research has shown that young women aged 18 to 34 are also the least able to afford contraception. It's simply not true that birth control is cheap for everyone. Many women have medical needs that require them to use more expensive contraceptives. As a result, the government is defunding clinics that would otherwise help provide affordable birth control. What is more worrying is that Vi...... middle of paper ...... women, as removing both would be detrimental. It is shown that the overall increase in premiums for insurance companies in the long term would not increase deficits, but rather reduce them. Among religious groups, coverage of birth control is not an issue because it is widely used. The people who oppose these medications and services aren't even the women themselves. Happy women make a happy country. Works Cited “Facts about publicly funded contraceptive services in the United States.” Guttmacher Institute. Internet. May 2, 2012. “Contraception”. Guttmacher Institute. Internet. May 2, 2012. “National Health Business Group (NBHG): Welcome. » National Health Business Group (NBHG): Welcome. Internet. May 2, 2012. “Keeping Birth Control Affordable.” » Planned Parenthood Action Center. Web. May 2, 2012. “Healthcare Industries. » PricewaterhouseCoopers. Web. May 2 2012. 2012.