On January 20, 2012, the Obama administration announced its final policy on no-cost birth control.
The Obama administration resisted the pressure campaign from anti-contraception groups. These groups wanted to broaden the refusal rule in a way that would have allowed many employers, including universities and hospitals, to refuse to cover birth control - but Preident Obama said no! Employers who are currently not offering birth-control coverage will have a year to come into compliance.
Today's announcement means that millions of women will be guaranteed access to birth control, no matter who their employers are.
Please take a moment to sign our message of thanks the Obama administration for standing up for women's access to birth control.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initially appointed the Institute of Medicine (IOM) panel to recommend which services should be included. The panel, which included obstetricians, gynecologists, and other leading women's health experts, recommended fully covering family-planning care.
It is because of activists across the whole country that women could rejoice at this amazing victory. Here in Montana, hundreds of you have showed your support via our petition. And Sens. Baucus and Tester and Montana's Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Monica Lindeen sent letters urging Kathleen Sebelius to include birth control as no-cost preventative care under the health-care law.
Read Sen. Baucus' letter
Read Sen. Tester's letter
Affordable birth control without copays is a huge victory for women's health in Montana and across the country. As strong advocates for this issue, we know the importance and impact this will have on our community. Making family-planning services available without a copay will help Montana women prevent unintended pregnancy and thereby reduce the need for abortion.
How can I spread the word about this amazing opportunity for women?
How will no-cost birth control help women?
Improving women's access to birth control is one of the best ways to help prevent unintended pregnancy and thus reduce the need for abortion.
Making no-cost birth control a reality also will help women make responsible health-care decisions.
No-cost birth control is especially important for women who cannot afford prescription contraception or a deductible.
Affordable Birth Control Will Improve the Health of Women: Thirty-six million women in the United States are in need of contraception. One in three women has struggled with the cost of prescription birth control at some point. Greater access to birth control has been shown to reduce unintended pregnancy rates.
No-Cost Birth Control Will Help Reduce Unintended Pregnancies Among Young Women: Young adults age 18-24 have the highest rate of unintended pregnancy in the United States – and nearly one-third of teenage girls become pregnant before reaching the age of 20. There is a significant need to help young people obtain confidential, no-cost birth-control coverage.
