February 10, 2012

Birth Control a.k.a contraception comes in many forms and used by many women across the nation to help to sustain themselves from unwanted pregancies, regulate hormones and assist with other “female problems”. Women typically go to see their OB-GYN, get a perscription and take it from there. Birth Control is not a required medicine but within the last hundred years has become more common for women to CHOOSE  to take. Just like any medicine birth control can be expensive and not every woman’s insurance company covers it under their policy.

President Obama recently proposed a new mandate (pending Congressional approval) that requires employers to provide contraceptives as a part of their health plan, essentially adding it under the preventative healthcare umbrella. The orginal provision was very broad and received much backlash and criticism from his opponents, less progressive members of the Democratic Party,  as well as religious organzations that oppose birth control (most notably the Catholic Church).  Their primary argument being that this mandate was another form of implying government control over individual rights. 

Though President Obama has remained solidly above 50% in his approval ratings, many media outlets reported that this mandate could cost him votes and be highly unfavorable for him in the November.

Thus today President Obama announced what he calls an “accomodation” to the mandate, that would appease religious organizations but still provide women who work for the those organizations the opportunity to access free birth control.  He stated “Whether you’re a teacher or a small businesswoman or a nurse or a janitor, no woman’s ‘s health should depend on who she is, or where she works, or how much money she makes.”   Free contraceptive care is  a “core principle” of his health care law, which requires that all preventive services be provided at no cost to patients. The women who work for these institutions will access birth control directly through their insurance companies instead of through their employers.

Critics from the other side insist that insurance companies most likely will not provide the contraceptives to the women for free but as it stands that is still just speculation. But what are your thoughts was creating a birth control mandate a bad idea all together or is it refreshing that we have a President looking out for women and their interests?

SPILL THE BEANS BELOW…