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BY LEXA DECKERT

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Controversial changes to women’s health care -- chosen by the Obama administration -- KXAN has the details...

“Soon all private insurance will cover preventative services without a deductible or copay. That means women will get items like birth control pills free of charge -- including emergency contraception like the so-called morning after pill.”


Why and what all does this cover? ABC reports...

“Sweeping new guidelines intended to help all women have the chance to stop health problems before they start...”

“What exactly? Well women visits, screening for gestational diabetes, breast feeding support, domestic violence screening, and all FDA approved birth control methods, including emergency contraception -- like the morning after pill -- they’ll all be covered.”


The move hasn’t been without controversy -- for example, from religious groups. But Modern Health Care explains -- the new policy has some clauses for compromise.

“The new rules allow religious institutions that offer insurance to their employees to opt out of covering contraception services. The exemption stemmed from objections by some religious organizations that requiring funding for birth control coverage would violate their core beliefs and force them to discontinue insurance coverage for all of their employees.”


So far -- most reports suggest people are pleased with the change. CNN talks about why the choice was made...


“The decision was made because about 40% of all pregnancies in this country are unintended and when they’re not intented the moms tend to get less prenatal care, the babies tend to not do as well when they’re born...Half of all pregnancies in this country that are paid for by the government -- for example by Medicaid -- as you can imagine, it’s a lot cheaper to give someone birth control pills than to pay for the birth and to raise that child.”


In the midst of the heated debate on whether the right decision was made -- The Washington Post points out -- it’s nothing new...


“It’s no secret that the debate over contraceptives -- from education about them to access to them -- has a long history, but it’s not as divisive as some might think: 28 states already require birth control to be covered by insurance.


The new rules will go into effect August 1, 2012.

 

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