Birth Control Controversy

Over the counter birth control pills have been a topic of discussion for many women. Some might say it would pose many risks such as not receiving medical checkups and not knowing the side effects of birth control pills. Others may see it as a helpful to women because of the convenience of accessing the pills and not having to take time to schedule appointments. Additionally, due to health care and insurance policies some women might not have an easy access to birth control pills but the cost should not be a factor. Although over the counter birth control would allow an easier access for women, there are reasons why a doctor’s visit and a prescription are required to receive birth control pills.

Birth control has been a controversial topic since the 1960’s, when the pill arose on the scene and gained popularity. Men and women of certain religious faiths have sought to prevent other women from using birth control. However, most women want to be able to choose when the time is right for them to have a child. This is why birth control is essential, because it allows women and couples in general the freedom to choose and plan their families. In many cases the need to control women by controlling their access to birth control goes all the way to the federal government. The federal government determines what types of birth control are allowed on the market and who has access to them. Some Presidential administrations look more kindly

Birth control is utilized by a large portion of sexually active women in the United States (Planned Parenthood). Its benefits are innumerable. The uses of birth control spread through a wide variety of domains, from the prevention of diseases, to the treatment of disorders ranging from anemia to endometriosis. It can be used in conjunction with condoms in order to assure effectiveness and, as a whole, allows women to take control of certain aspects of their futures. Birth control is a fundamental aspect of many women’s lives and yet it remains a point of

The Affordable Care Act requires health insurance providers—including both health insurance companies and companies that administer self-insured employer health plans on behalf of the employer (third party administrators)—to provide certain preventative services to women without cost. 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-13(a)(4) (2015). Congress delegated the task of deciding which kinds of preventative care would be provided to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). In making its determination, HRSA consulted the Institute of Medicine (IOM), which ultimately decided that insurers must provide “coverage without cost sharing” for “[a]ll Food and Drug Administration approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education

More than half of all women of reproductive age in the United States use some form of contraceptive (Daniels, Daugherty, and Jones, 2014). Of those, most are on the oral-contraceptive pill. Even with new regulations in place to supposedly increase access to preventive services, there is still an issue of women who are sexually active, do not wish to become pregnant within the next year, and who are not using a form of contraception. Clinician and facility based barriers are the largest deterrent for these women. By removing the barriers to contraceptive counseling and services, women will have greater access to their health.

In the beginning of August 2012, President Barack Obama and his administration had implemented a policy where most health insurance plans will cover will cover women’s preventive services, including contraception, without charging a co-pay or deductible under the Affordable Care Act (“Fact Sheet”, 2012). Women were provided contraceptive services no matter where she worked, including birth control pills, IUD, Nexplanon, and more. If a woman works for a religious employer that objects on providing contraceptive services, the religious employer will not be required to provide but her insurance company will be required to directly offer her contraceptive care free of charge (“Fact Sheet”, 2012). Recently, under the Trump administration,

Statement of Issue: Health insurance coverage has been chronically problematic for the United States for decades. Conservatives and Liberals have continuously argued about the challenges that America’s healthcare system faces and how insurance and payments ought to be handled. The main issues concerning Americans include: cost, access, and quality of healthcare. Most citizens are provided health insurance through their employers.6 However, problems concerning birth control coverage through employers have sprouted; an example of a contraceptive case that has been evaluated would be Burwell v. Hobby Lobby in January, 2016.3 Without easy access to birth control millions of women will face numerous problems; for example:

The refusal of some health insurers to include contraceptives as a part of an insurance plan for women is one of the most contentious disagreements in the health insurance industry. Insurance plans today cover a variety of prescription drugs, however some still do not approve of prescription contraceptive drugs and devices. More than half of U.S. states insurance policies require that other prescription drugs along with the FDA approved contraceptive drugs and devices be included on their health care plans, as well as any related medical services. These services entitle, annual visits for womens recommended preventive care and services. Although depending on individual state policies, some states allow employers or insurers to refuse

Since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), our health care system has undergone a transformation to be inclusive of every American’s health care needs. In particular, ACA has dramatically increased contraceptive coverage for women. Under the ACA’s contraceptive coverage guarantee, also known as contraceptive coverage mandate, all private health plans in the United States must cover at least one form of contraception in each of the of the 18 methods as identified in the Food and Drug Administration’s(FDA) Birth Control Guide for women (citation2). In addition, Insures most provided this coverage without copayments, deductibles, or out-of-pocket costs. Unfortunately, due to the wording of preventive care services in ACA legislation,

The same goes for women who are adults that want to prevent pregnancies. In an article “Controversies over Women’s Access to Birth Control”, there is 47 percent of unintended pregnancies occur in a small group of women who don’t use protection when having sex (Clemmitt, “Controversies over Women’s…”). Women should not have to worry whether or not she is going to get pregnant before finishing college or getting that promotion she’s been working most of her life to achieve. Women shouldn’t have to worry about getting pregnant and putting off the wedding she’s already spent thousands of dollars on. Women have the right to say when they want a baby or if she even wants to have one. If a women already pays for insurance it should cover all that

In order to favor both sides of the argument, Donald Trump should enforce insurance companies to only cover expensive birth control options, such as the IUD, insert, and ring. Meanwhile, insurances could only cover a portion of cheaper birth control options, such as the commonly used pill. This allows women that want the for efficient birth control options can receive those without suffering from debt. Those that use the pill must pay a copay, but the insurance company will pay a portion of the expenses. This will also help the economic cycle of money distribution through the United States but will also avoid debt. Also, part of this compromise can include the education system and drugstores. The educational system should be required to inform high school students the facts, benefits, and warning of birth control along with sexual education. Condom brands should also decrease the prices of condoms so that way Americans can partake in sexual activity but be guaranteed preventing infections, such as STDS. With this compromise, both sides of the argument, women vs healthcare professionals, will have both of their complaints met, which can help better our society and

[t]here 's a financial incentive for covering birth control, and insurance companies know it. Unlike most preventive health

There are 154,195 convenience stores across the U.S. according to The Association for Convenience and Fuel Retailing. Which means there are 154,195 places to easily access basic necessities like headache medicine and condoms. Birth control is not nearly as accessible, but it needs to be. Easily accessible, affordable birth control is a human right and benefit nationally. The prescription requirement to obtain birth control is not justified and must be eradicated.

Birth control has been a divisive issue in America for a long time, starting with the movement to legalize it in the early 1900s to the current complicated legislative landscape. This topic has been met with much opposition, with some citing potential health risks or others feeling wary of the level of government intervention, especially with the Affordable Care Act calling for birth control coverage for physician approved contraceptive methods. With healthcare expenditures rising every year, funding has become a key issue in the birth control conversation. This memo serves to explain H.R. 3134, which aims to cut federal funding to Planned Parenthood (PPFA) for one year, by giving an overview of key birth control legislation, evaluating the bill’s strengths and weaknesses, and concluding with a recommendation to adjust the proposed cancelation of funding PPFA to a reduction of three percent.

America has been up in arms of late. Family members turn against each other, neighbors argue, and social media fills with article upon article all discussing one issue: whether or not health insurance should be required to cover the cost of birth control. More than 99% of sexually active women between the ages of 15 and 44 use at least one form of contraceptive (Contraceptive Use United). Consequently, when Republicans voted down the GOP bill in January, panic ensued (Adamczyk). Birth control varies in importance to women everywhere, and critics attack its right to be covered by health insurance every chance they get. However, when you remove opinion from the equation, all of the facts point to a single conclusion: birth control should be covered by health insurance.