A lot of special interest groups are up in arms over the news that the Obama administration is going to require health insurance to cover birth control - and without a co-pay, to boot! But this is a watershed moment for women in America. I think fifty years from now, people will look back on this as being one of those Big Things That Made A Real Difference.
First of all, there's no reason that birth control shouldn't be covered by health insurance. What is health insurance for, if not to prevent and control health issues? And surely an unintended pregnancy is one of the biggest health issues of all. Birth control is not a frivolous or cosmetic issue. For many women, it's a matter of life or death - both literally and figuratively.
A lot of women have to choose their method of birth control based on cost. And of all the reasons to select a birth control method, "It's cheap" surely must be one of the worst. Even worse, many women have to skip or skimp on their birth control because they can't afford it. Maybe you're short this pay period, so you have to wait a few extra days to get your prescription refilled.
No one should get pregnant because they couldn't afford not to. And yet, that is precisely what happens to a lot of women. And of all the things that can knock you back in life, an unintended pregnancy is one of the biggest. How many women would have an easier time clawing their way out of poverty if they had been able to prevent an ill-timed pregnancy?
According to the National Institute of Health, almost half of all pregnancies in America are unplanned. That's a surprising statistic, and a dismaying one. There are a lot of reasons why unplanned pregnancies happen, and having birth control covered by health insurance won't reach all of them. But it will go a long way to address the problem.
Detractors are pitching this as some kind of "government run amok" slash Nanny State issue. But this is patently ridiculous. According to the same NIH study, American saved $19 billion in medical costs per year just by using contraception.
Contraception is a lot cheaper than a baby, in every possible way! Unintended pregnancies cost this country $5 billion a year, and wouldn't you think the Conservatives and the religious Right would be in favor of a measure that both saves money AND reduces the abortion rate?