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It should also be noted that almost all current health insurance plans already cover prescription contraceptives with varying co-pays. Still, in a nod to religious and social conservatives, the new rules issued yesterday also include a provision that will permit religious institutions to opt out of offering birth control coverage, although many of them have stated that they feel the conscience clause is insufficient. As a result Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) is seeking to promote new legislation that would codify a range of exceptions to the new health care law on conscious and religious grounds.

50 years after the pill revolutionized womens healthcare, the Obama administration has announced a new era in which birth control will now be considered preventative treatment to be covered under health insurance plans with no co-pays (although exceptions may still be made in some cases for brands for which a generic is available).

As a result of yesterdays move, birth control in all forms approved by the FDA, including the pill, intrauterine devices, the morning after pill and newer forms of long-acting hormonal contraceptives will now be covered without additional charges, as are at least one annual well woman screening for the virus that causes cervical cancer for women 30 years old and up, annual HIV counseling and screening, along with annual STD counseling. Prenatal screenings for diabetes, as well as support for nursing moms (including breast pumps) will also be covered. In addition, services involving domestic violence counseling have also been included this broad expansion of womens preventative care under the Presidents overhaul of health care. The package, will go into effect January 1, 2013, is expected to (initially) benefit tens of millions of women.

Since birth control is the most common drug prescribed for women, health plans sgould make sure it is readily available, stated Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Not doing it would be like not covering flu shots.

Those seeking more information about birth control and family planning http://www.best-breast-pumps.com/ can contact Planned Parenthood of Southern New England at 335 Whitney Ave., New Haven, CT 06511 203 865-5158.



For a related article please check out http://www.examiner.com/wellness-in-hartford/beware-of-bogus-birthcontro...

http://www.examiner.com/article/women-s-preventative-care-widely-expanded