A panel of experts organized by the Obama administration is debating whether women could receive contraceptives for free under the new health care law.
The law requires insurance companies to cover the costs of “preventive health services.” The non-partisan, non-governmental panel — made up of experts from the Institute of Medicine — will decide which specific women’s health services insurance can cover under the preventive requirement.
Media reports have said the administration expects contraceptives to be covered under the law.
Removing cost barriers to birth control has been widely supported by women’s rights groups for decades, but the possibility of making insurance providers cover these costs has found opposition from many groups, including the Roman Catholic Church.
While questions of the federal government’s place in health care continue to percolate, ASU students shared their opinions on the possibility of free contraceptives and family planning.
Global studies sophomore Natalie Goldfarb is the director of internal affairs at VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood. Goldfarb said birth control gives women more freedom, as well as the opportunity to be well prepared before pregnancy occurs.
“Free contraceptives would improve quality of life on a large social scale,” she said. “It would allow for women to prevent pregnancies until they’re financially stable.”
Currently, brand name birth control pills can cost about $60 a month, not including doctor visits and exams.
Nursing junior Angela Bevilacqua, president of Students for Life at ASU, said she disagrees with the idea of cost-free contraceptives because of her religious background.
“Sex in the Catholic Church is for unitive and procreative reasons, and contraceptives gravely offend those reasons,” she said. “Use of a contraceptive gravely offends life.”
In addition to contraceptives, some services being discussed include annual check-ups for women, cervical and breast cancer screenings, and appointments for women who are planning a pregnancy.
The expert medical panel will provide guidelines for which preventive services will be covered under the health care law by Aug. 1.
VOX club member and global studies senior Emily Eaton said birth control should be considered a preventive health service, citing consequences of sex without use of contraceptives.
“Pregnancy can be a traumatic thing if a woman isn’t ready physically and emotionally,” she said.
While Bevilacqua agrees that a woman should be prepared for pregnancy, she does not see birth control as a preventive service.
“The goal of preventative care is to prevent a disease or illness. Pregnancy is neither of those,” she said. “It’s actually an indication things are going right.”
ASU health services provide gynecological services on the Tempe campus, including annual exams and birth control. Another service for students and local residents is NP Healthcare Grace, which is located in downtown Phoenix. The downtown location offers women’s health services for students and community members, including teens.
Reach the reporter at tafergu1@asu.edu
