At any given time, 70 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 44 are sexually active and do not want to become pregnant. Of this group, 98 percent have used some form of birth control. This widespread use and need of contraceptives indicates that they comprise one of the largest groups requiring preventive care for women in this country.
Also, the cost of preventing pregnancy is high for many women. The average American woman spends 30 years avoiding pregnancy, which is no small expense. If she wants two children, she will spend roughly five years trying to get pregnant and being pregnant.
Many people, including women's health advocates and some employer groups, think contraception should be one of the required free services.
Planned Parenthood believes that all people deserve access to preventive health care, including life-saving breast and cervical cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and contraception. In fact, more than 90 percent of the care Planned Parenthood health centers offer nationwide is preventive.
This fall, the expense part of avoiding pregnancy may change. The health care overhaul may require new health plans to begin providing preventive health services at no cost to patients. Many health plans already cover prescription contraceptives. Twenty-seven states have laws that require some level of coverage. Improving access and coverage even further could help reduce the estimated three million unplanned pregnancies per year.
Among other health benefits, women who plan their pregnancies are more likely to get necessary prenatal care and avoid closely spaced births, which can put a strain on their bodies and their parenting skills, and may result in low-birth weight babies.
One of the reasons for unintended pregnancies is the cost of contraception, say experts. Even if a health plan covers contraceptive services, women often face hefty co-payments, ranging from $20 to $50 per month for birth control pills to several hundred dollars for a longer-acting method such as an intrauterine device.
Experts say another important benefit of eliminating out-of-pocket costs is that it could encourage the use of more-reliable and cost-effective contraceptives, such as IUDs and hormonal implants. These methods may provide protection for several years, without relying on women to remember to take a pill or insert a device. But their higher upfront costs currently discourage many women from using them.
Not everyone agrees that contraception belongs on the list of free preventive services, however. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, for example, opposes it.
At this point, it is unclear whether contraception will make the list of free covered preventive services. A few specific women's health services, such as mammograms, are required by the new law. But many others will be determined by the guidance from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration and it could take up to a year for the federal agency to develop its recommendations.
Many employers support covering contraception because it ultimately saves them money. Even the priciest birth control is a lot cheaper than the $8,000 to $11,000 price tag for an employee's prenatal and maternity care.
A PriceWaterhouseCoopers study commissioned by NBGH estimated that the cost to health plans of providing preventive family planning services is about $40 per member annually. A typical family policy costs about $13,000 a year.
Sources:
MSNBC.com
Kaiser Health News
MC Ortega is the former publicist for the late Walter Payton, Coca-Cola and Dunkin’ Donuts. Ortega is a senior communications and messaging executive specializing in media relations, social media, program development and crisis communications. Also, Ortega is an avid traveler and international shopper. Ortega resides with her partner, Craig, dog, Fionne and extensive shoe collection. Ortega also enjoys jewelry design/production and flamenco dancing.