E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSStarting Wednesday, millions of American women will no longer pay for birth control pills, Pap smears or mammograms -- not even a co-pay. Women also have the right to free breast-feeding support, supplies for pregnancy-related diabetes, also known as gestational diabetes, and even screening for domestic violence.
President Obama's health care reform is drawing fire from Republicans, as provisions enacted today mandate all employers provide free contraception to their employees. NBC's Brian Mooar reports.
It's not clear how many women will take advantage of the new policy, but the US Health and Human Services Department estimates that 47 million women, ages 15 to 64, have private health insurance plans that will be affected. The 2010 health reform law requires that policies provided by private health insurance companies pay for a list of women’s health preventive services, starting August 1.
However, there may be a delay in services for many women. The law applies to new policies -- women with existing coverage may have to wait for their policies to renew for the requirements to kick in, which could take months. Many health insurers already provide this coverage.
The new rules are based on guidelines from the independent, non-partisan Institute of Medicine, which said paying for these services will save money and lives down the road.
“We want healthy women to have healthy babies,” said Dr. Jennifer Howse, president of the March of Dimes Foundation, a charity that works to prevent birth defects. “Receiving regular medical care greatly increases the likelihood that important messages can be delivered to pregnant women around issues such as nutrition and tobacco cessation, and provides opportunities to detect potentially dangerous conditions like gestational diabetes or high blood pressure.”
There are a few exceptions. Purely religious employers don’t have to provide the services to employees if they object. Related groups, such as Catholic-affiliated universities, have objected so the Obama administration offered what it called an accommodation, forcing the insurance companies themselves to pay for the coverage. But the religious associations still object, as do Republicans in Congress. They have promised to repeal the whole law if they win enough seats in the November election.
On Friday, a federal judge in Colorado ruled that a Catholic-owned heating and air conditioning company in Denver did not have to provide contraception coverage for its workers.
Americans also get refunds starting today from health insurance companies that spent too much on administrative expenses. The law requires health insurance companies to spend at least 80 percent of premiums on actual medical care and not on salaries, office rental and other overheads.
While opponents continue efforts to repeal the health care law, HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius cheered the the promise of free screening for women's health services.
"For too long insurance companies have stacked the deck against women, forcing us to pay more for coverage that didn't meet our needs,” Sebelius said Tuesday.
Related links:
Judge dismisses suit against contraception mandate
Leave a Comment:
Are there free condoms in this law?
Yep. Until the repubs completely block all funding for Planned Parenthood Clinics and Public Health Facilities. Just walk in the door and ask. They shall be provided for you.
maybe obama will offer free hysterectomies to teenage girls.....that would go along way to reducing welfare rolls...
A hysterectomy is not a fun or painfree or easy procedure. I had one 2 years ago due to pre-cancerous conditions of the endometrium and over 25 years of abnormal periods that caused me to have to get 3 blood transfusions, horrible anemia and debilitating pain. I am now left with scars (even though it was a laparoscopic procedure), a rather lessened sexual response (as the bottom part of the vagina and the cervix, which contain a lot of nerves, were cut away) and the emotional trauma of not being able to ever have biological children.
Moreover, the total bill for the surgery that included one night in the hospital was almost $40,000. I had insurance, so I didn't have to pay all that.
Please don't joke about hysterectomies. They are awful surgeries that leave a lifetime of scars (physical and emotional) and surely they are not appropriate for teenage girls.
the joke is on obama...
Another policy encouraging fed backed legalized discrimination.... Where is the free birth control for men????
Already exists. Go to Planned Parenthood or your local health department. They've been giving away free condoms for ages.
Contraception is also sperm control. So yes, men are also getting free birth control out of the deal. They should be grateful they aren't the ones having to take the pill everyday! Many are, and we are grateful for them.
Nothing is "free" and it would be nice if the liberal press would quit promoting this erroneous idea. All this law does is shift the burden as to who pays for the benefits. Like most things in life, if you don't have to put yourself out to receive it, you never appreciate what you receive- whether it be health care, education, a job, a car, or a house. None of these are entitlements.
Exactly, drastically reducing unwanted pregnancies isn't "FREE".
It actually "SAVES MONEY"!!!!!!
William -
Remains to be seen if this will reduce unwanted pregnancies.
Brian, you are correct. Just because it's free, doesn't mean people will take the time to go and get it. There are places they can get BC for free now and they don't. This program is just a bunch of fluff.
A bunch of fluff? Forcing insurance companies to actually cover the health care they are supposed to be covering everytime you pay a premium is a bunch of fluff? Okayyy, then.
This article from another NBC story. Wow.
The man is seriously disturbed.
Most of you here praising the plan are Obama lovers of Obamacare. You miss the point others are making. Since when is it the responsibility of the many to pay for in ALL cases a decision made. The choice isn't to take the pill, or the shot, or the ring, it's a choice of sex or not. So when do we get the pills to stop smoking for free or weight loss? The argument being made pro is think of what it will save us with lower pregnancies? Same applies with smoking and weight loss. So when does it become the responsibility of the taxpayer to fix others poor choices and behavorial trates?
The pill is not about sex. Only uneducated men and women who have no clue how the female reproductive system works think that birth control pills are about sex. Please educate yourself.
There are many insurance plans that do cover smoking cessation at no cost (mine is one of them).
This is not a taxpayer issue. This is an insurance plan issue. With my insurance premium, I pay for a policy that covers a variety of issues and medical problems. These include addiction, mental illness, cancer, accidents, surgeries, bypasses, dialisys, etc. I hope I never have to use any of these benefits.
That's what insurance does - you pay a premium to belong to a plan that covers a variety of issues, some of which will never affect you, the same way you pay for a car insurance policy and you never have a wreck.
You can't pick or choose what you pay for with an insurance plan. Even if you could, how can you foretell that you'll never get sick?
As a U.S. citizen, I have the right to own a gun.
I either can't or just don't want to pay for it.
You buy me one. Every month. For the next 30 years.
Thanks.
Please explain to me your train of thought on how this relates.
Let me break this down - Woman is already paying for insurance - Woman is forced to pay large sums out of pocket for preventative care. This law makes it so woman no longer pay large sums out of pocket for preventative care.
Was that simple enough for you?
This has nothing to do with taxes. The BCP isn't going to be paid by taxes, its going to be paid by the insurance companies, you know the company you pay $$$$ to every year for coverage. The difference is that you will now have more complete coverage (birth control, pap smears, mammograms, prostate exams, and general physicals) with less out of pocket costs, so what is wrong with that? The reason BCP is covered and not condoms is that condoms are over-the-counter and have never been covered by insurance companies, therefore there would be no way for there to be a way to mandate that the cost is covered. Tube ligation isn't free, so why would vasectomies be free?
Does the new law prohibit the insurance companies from passing the cost along to its customers?
I bet not.
N02 -
Insurance companies will increase premiums within the claims paid limits to cover the elimination of the co-pays for this benefit.
Ah yes! another welfare program, why not? Another few more billion added to our debt is no big deal.
Its not a welfare program, it only benefits those with private insurance. It would be a wise welfare program though, less unwanted pregnancies.
This is part of Obama Care, which will add tens of thousands of people to govt. assistance roles.
now i guess i can tell my kids pregnancy is a disease that needs daily medication.
Pregnancy is not a disease, but it is a medical condition from which millions of women die even in this day and age. Plenty of women develop a variety of very serious and life-threatening conditions during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes - which is among the free screenings included in this article - is a very serious and potentially very dangerous condition that needs to be monitored closely as it affects both mother and fetus.
There are plenty of women who must ingest daily medications while pregnant. Pregnancy is actually very arduous on the body. Pregnancy was - until the last century - one of the leading causes of death in women.
Free Birth Control. Its aimed at the over 35 woman. Birth Control pills and the side affects contribute and KILL more women 35 and up then all deceases combined. Now they don't have to pay to kill themselves.
You mean we are not a third world country anymore? WOOHOO!!
No, we still are. This does not help the uninsured.
nay sayers...if you bother to look at the BIG picture...this is a great day for women's health and will SAVE untold billions in the future...but if you want to be a conservative basher...well...thats why we have this blog. I've asked many conservatives at work what they dont like about obamacare...and ya know what...NONE of them have an answer...they've been influenced by the media...and of course they already have this pre-consieved notion they don't like a black president. Obamacare....or whatever you what to call it, makes people accountable...it protects people that have been abused by the insurance companies....so what is it you dont like ?
total bull@!$%#!!
Real simple 'sensical14' - My insurance rates have been climbing for the past 13 years at about 4% per year. This year I got a 12% increase directly cited to changes from Obamacare. So the Government did in one year what it was taking my insurance company to do in 3...I guess the government is more efficient than the private sector.
Here's an answer...Obama and his lackies forced it down our throats and nobody had a clue what was in it. Apparently you have a pre-conceived idea that people don't like him because he's black. That has nothing to do with it. I judge people by what they do and really thought when he first came on the scene that maybe here was someone we could get behind. Nope. Hollow man...Chicago style politician plain and simple. There's no way that this bill is not going to cost us all dearly. How is it in your little world can you make things appear out of thin air and it's all "free"? "Free" is costing someone, somewhere, something. If this routine is acceptable to you, how about if I come to your house and let you sign this little contract I have...but don't read it...it's ok, I'll stand behind it...it will be great and it won't add a dime to your debt. Agreed???
The government that created this "health Care Reform Act' is also the government that pushed home ownership through Fannie and Freddie, creating the housing market balloon and the ensuing credit balloon, which when both deflated almost burned our entire economy to the ground, and created the current unemployment crisis. It's also the same government that has been pushing to move into the "Global Economy" for the past 20+ years, and now there aren't enough better production jobs for people here because they have moved off shore, and forcing our people to compete with people in nations where slave labor rates are the norm. It's also the same government that can't balance it's own check book, or budget in 50+ years, and has indebted us tax payers for generations to come. And you want to hand over our healthcare to these idiots? What makes you think this will end any better? If it's so great, why aren't they the government on the same health care system they legislated on all of us? Why did they give unions in New York State exemptions, and not offer them to everyone else? This sin't healthcare, it's a power grab!
Too bad you have to have insurance for this be helpful... Singed, One of America's uninsured because I cannot afford private health insurance.
I always thought it was funny that they would pay for viagra and not birth control.
What I object to is being forced to pay for someone's lack of thinking or discretion, and that's all this does. This law didn't fix any of the real problems with healthcare. The unions in New York got exemptions from having to be under this law, why can't I? This is reason enough (besides the economy, unemployment, etc) for me to vote against all liberals, Democrats, and especially Obama! Looking forward to November!
We have people having to pay for there medicines to help them breath but we can give free birth control when we know that there are going to be improper ladies who take advantage of it. I understand if you take it for cramps, but sex was made to have kids not to just have a little one night stand. Before we know it, condoms will be free. What has this world come to?
Improper ladies? wow... It's 2012. Who are these 'improper ladies' sleeping with? Also, 'sex was made to have kids not to just have a little one night stand.' So in your world if one can't have kids or is too old for kids or already has kids, one should cease to have sex? Not sure about you, but for most people on this planet sex is actually enjoyable, an expression of love to one's partner, a necessity and it has health benefits to boot. Who are you... the sex police?
In order for a birth control pill to be effective, it must be taken every day at about the same time a day. Condoms are free... you can go to your local health clinic or to Planned Parenthood or to your college's health services center and you'll have free condoms. By the way, the BC pill does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases, whereas the condom does.
Uh, oh! Jokes on you. Condoms are already free!
Don't you love how NBC 'News' calls this "Free Birth Control" - Free, really? Note to writer Maggie Fox, "Free" this is not, in the real world, this is called cost shifting and this is yet another example of why my insurance rates jumped 12% this year.
Today?? That's funny. Our local health department has been doling out condoms and birthcontrol pills forever, as well as other services. That's one reason why they're in such financial straits.
Chemist...some good points...BUT do you see where private health care has got us...the same greedy place as the rest of the financial markets....talking about the banks and the insurance companies in particular and the derivative markets...what a complete insult to working Americans !.....and "disatisfied"...you ought to be thanking our gov't for saving our economy....think about how much worse it could be. Take a look at many european countries.....can you imagine austerity...cutback programs...here. There would be riots in the street. Be thankfull....we still have the best system !
If this trend continues, the Democrats will start on dental care next, and then everyone will be guaranteed to have a tooth brush, dental floss, toothpaste, and a yearly dental exam with teeth cleaning and a fluoride treatment for preventive care . . .
This nonsense has got to stop, because if it does not stop, then pretty soon everyone in the country will be healthy and have good teeth, and how stupid is that, really . . .
Really! :-o
My dental insurance already covers two zero-copay cleanings per year and my dentist hands me a new toothbrush and 100 yds of floss when the cleaning is finished.
free birth control for woman only?
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Thank you Israel. I mean Mitt (I didn't say that) Romney praised Israel for the health of their citizens and their Health Care, not once understanding that Israel has UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE! Yep, funded in part by U.S. Dollars.
Only in America .....
To the males that are complaining that their vasectomies will not be free I have to say, you do realize that is a one time event, right? It happens over 3 doctor visits where you pay your copay each time and your done forever. Women have menstrual cycles on a monthly basis for 30-40 years. I have paid over $4000 out of pocket on birth control in the last 12 years and will need BC, hopefully, for another 20 years. Keep in mind that having a baby is $10000 to $20000 in medical costs paid mostly by the insurance company, which do you think would be cheaper for the insurance company to avoid paying for? I'm so baffled why everyone keeps saying the insurance companies are raising premiums when this will in fact lower costs for them, not only with pregnancy but with the screenings early detection saves lives and money!
How about we pay for sterilization of women instead as this would be a one time treatment. I also believe if you are one welfare for more than 2 years you should be sterilized and paid for by the taxpayer...
Too bad they didn't catch up to your mother in time.
Sterilization for women is a much more difficult and involved procedure than a simple vasectomy. This is due to the different anatomies of the male and female reproductive systems. If you're referring to tubal ligation, it is not 100% error proof. If you're referring to a hysterectomy, that surgery has plenty of physical and psychological side effects and should be avoided at all costs.
I absolutely agree with you Kent, and I also agree with drug tests for welfare recipients including food stamps and whatever. If I as a VA recipient of benefits have to have drug tests, then food stamp recipients should also!
I'm registered independent voter. So I really don't give a ratz arse about supporting dems and repubs.
All I can say is vote your conscience. I understand many Americans vote by how much is in their wallet. I tend to look at issues like health care and say "how can we work together to resolve our health care concerns, improve services, and lower costs. For me its about the outcome.
Social issues are a bigger challenge and very difficult to get concensous. Let's do something about health care today! We can worry about dornication, what people do in the back seats of their cars, and religious beliefs later.
There is an old saying... "Be careful what you ask for because you might get it".