According to a new report from the Institute of Medicine — a nonprofit organization that gives advice to decision makers and the public — birth control should be covered by health insurance plans with no cost to patients.
Along with this recommendation to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, annual HIV tests, breastfeeding support, sterilization, reproductive education, and a well-woman care visit should also be fully covered under the health care reform law.
The report states birth control should be available “so that women can better avoid unwanted pregnancies and space their pregnancies to promote optimal birth outcomes.”
Just in time for the debt ceiling talks, the IOM found unwanted pregnancies cost the U.S. an estimated $5 billion in 2002! Furthermore, the nonprofit found the savings in the same year due to contraceptive use was estimated to be $19.3 billion!
If these findings are accurate it seems like we have nothing to lose and only billions of dollars to gain by enforcing a law that requires health care companies to cover contraceptives at no extra cost for women.
The department of Health and Human Services is reviewing the report and could issue a recommendation as soon as early August. We’re crossing our fingers, ladies!