VICTORY for Access to Affordable Birth Control!

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California applauds the decision by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to ensure access to affordable birth control, and not further expand the refusal provision to birth control coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Take action and Thank President Obama for ensuring improved access to contraception.

This decision is grounded in sound medical science and health policy and protects access to affordable birth control for millions of women, including women who are employed by a religiously affiliated hospital, university, or other religiously affiliated organization that serves the broader public.

Birth control is basic health care for women. In July 2011, the respected, nonpartisan Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended birth control be covered as a women’s preventive service because it is fundamental to improving women’s health and the health of their families.

This birth control coverage benefit underscores the fact that birth control use is nearly universal in the United States, even among Catholic women. Studies, like those conducted by the Guttmacher Institute, have shown that 99% of all sexually experienced women and 98% of sexually experienced Catholic women will have used birth control at some point in their lives. In fact, according to NPR, many religiously affiliated hospitals and universities currently provide birth control coverage to their employees.

The birth control coverage benefit is also one of the most popular provisions in the Affordable Care Act, even among Catholics. According to a Hart Research poll, 71 percent of American voters, including 77 percent of Catholic women voters, support the benefit that health plans cover prescription birth control at no cost.

Planned Parenthood believes all women, regardless of their employer, should be able to access the birth control coverage benefit. Planned Parenthood respects religious freedom and believes that neither government nor employers should intrude on individuals’ ability to practice their own religion or faith, including their personal decisions about health care.