It seems that Obamacare will require ALL insurance companies to cover contraceptives without co-pays as well as sterilization procedures.
The NY Times reportse
A leading medical advisory panel recommended on Tuesday that all insurers be required to cover contraceptives for women free of charge as one of several preventive services under the new health care law.
Obama administration officials said that they were inclined to accept the panel’s advice and that the new requirements could take effect for many plans at the beginning of 2013. The administration signaled its intentions in January when Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, unveiled a 10-year program to improve the nation’s health. One goal was to “increase the proportion of health insurance plans that cover contraceptive supplies and services.” This startling new decree from on high appears to leave no out for Catholic or Christian institutions who don’t morally agree with contraception or sterilization.
Administration officials, who say they hope to act on the recommendations by Aug. 1, are receptive to the idea of removing cost as a barrier to birth control — a longtime goal of advocates for women’s rights and experts on women’s health.
It seems the decision is left to Kathleen Sebelius and Congress doesn’t get a say which pretty much means everyone’s getting contraception coverage.
The report raises the canard that an increase in contraception would lead to a decline in the number of abortions. And, of course, the Times passes this on uncritically as if this were indisputable despite every indication that the truth is the exact opposite.
In fact, this recommendation would require coverage of emergency contraceptives including pills like ella and Plan B which are abortifacients themselves. And there is no out clause for this requirement so it appears to me that Catholic and Christian institutions will be forced to cover contraceptive abortifacients and sterilization procedures.
Late in the piece, the Times finally gets around to quoting an objection to this madness.
Pregnancy is not a disease, and fertility is not a pathological condition to be suppressed,” said Deirdre A. McQuade, a spokeswoman for the bishops’ Pro-Life Secretariat. “But the Institute of Medicine report treats them as such.
It seems to me that at some point we just have to stand on the line and say “You shall not pass.” The time is now.
How can the Catholic Church say something is wrong if their insurance plans cover it?
July 20, 2011 at 3:06 pm
I'm sure the Bishops will respond with great courage and heroic virtue…in the form of a strongly worded statement.
July 20, 2011 at 3:17 pm
You don't think this is a strategic attempt to get Catholic and Christian organizations from failing to offer the minimum level of health care coverage as mandated in Obamacare without the White House-sanctioned waivers do you? I mean, if Catholic and Christian organizations don't offer health care, don't they face stiff fines and penalties?
No, this must just be the largesse of the uber-compassionate government trying to make sure that every woman has the opportunity to receive the life-saving and life-enhancing reproductive health care that they deserve.
/sarc off
July 20, 2011 at 3:18 pm
"to fail…"
sorry
July 20, 2011 at 4:20 pm
HLI America http://www.hliamerica.org/ has some excellent commentary on this issue.
July 20, 2011 at 5:03 pm
How much you wanna bet that they will NOT cover breastfeeding support or home birth? They don't give a good goose fart on a muggy day about the well-being of women and women's health. If they did, they'd acknowledge that women who have already made the CHOICE to have a baby deserve the same amount of "care" and "concern" as those who have not. No, it's not about women. It's about consequence-free sex, plain and simple.
July 20, 2011 at 9:43 pm
Actually, Amy, support for breastfeeding mothers was among the recommendations that went to Sibelius from the IoM. We'll see if anything comes of that.
July 21, 2011 at 1:22 am
Great commentary on Veritatis Splendor and contraception by Deacon Dan Gannon on http://www.catholicurrent.com/#/.
July 22, 2011 at 3:12 pm
I believe free hospital breast pumps is to be included too. I'm fine with supporting nursing, but the contraception, I can't & won't support.