Take Action for No Co-Pay Birth Control Coverage

Two days ago, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) announced their recommendation that all birth control methods -- from sterilization to the morning-after pill -- be categorized as preventative care, and as such free from co-pays under insurance coverage. This calls for a carnival!

Fortunately, the National Women's Law Center and Planned Parenthood are holding a birth control blog carnival today. So bloggers across the internet have a chance to join the party and celebrate the IOM's report, which also suggested that standard annual visits, STI testing, and domestic violence screening be among those no-cost services offered to women.

But today isn't just a day for doing a little victory dance, because we still need the Department of Health and Human Services to accept the recommendations. Things are looking hopeful: HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebellius also commented favorably on the historic findings, pointing out, "Before today, guidelines regarding women’s health and preventive care did not exist." Yet pressure from groups like the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have tried to derail the birth control preventative care train.

It's up to Sebellius to make the decision that would help women across the country to protect their health and prevent unwanted pregnancy. So today is also a day to take action: Tell Secretary Sebellius that women need total birth control coverage.

The fact is, covering birth control saves money. Kelley Blanchard of Ibis Reproductive Health writes, "data shows that every dollar spent on contraception saves $4 or more in costs to the health system." And preventing a woman from having to deal with an unwanted pregnancy is priceless. So everybody should be a part of the carnival: abortion rights defenders and who believe abortion is wrong should all be able to get on the birth control prevention train.

You can read other posts that are part of the birth control blog carnival here.

Photo credit: brainsthehead