This summer, the Department of Health and Human Services could rule that birth control should be considered preventative care on the grounds that it, you know, prevents unplanned pregnancy, as well as PMS and some gynecological cancers. If that happens, insurance companies would offer all FDA-approved methods of birth control—along with several other female-focused services—as part of a woman’s basic health coverage. In other words, you’d no longer have to pay extra for contraceptives. It’s common knowledge that women pay more than men for basic health care; the ruling could lessen the burden on women since more female-centric services, like birth control, would fall under covered costs. On the other hand, it’s unclear how the ruling would affect premiums in general, especially for women who don’t use contraceptives. Do you think expanding preventative care to include birth control is a step in the right direction?
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