http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/08/01/fr … h.control/The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced new guidelines in Washington Monday requiring health insurance plans beginning on or after August 1, 2012 to cover several women's preventive services, including birth control and voluntary sterilization.
According to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius the decision is a part of the Affordable Care Act's move to stop problems before they start. "These historic guidelines are based on science and existing literature and will help ensure women get the preventive health benefits they need," she said in a news release.
In July, the Institute of Medicine issued the results of a scientific review of women's health needs and provided recommendations on specific preventive measures to help them. Today HHS approved those recommendations.
Well, I'm not happy the government is forcing the insurance companies to cover the full cost. I would rather the government pick up the cost itself since it has the most to gain from preventing unwanted pregnancies and it's not the insurance companies problem. I have this weird feeling though that this in a small way erodes the concept of personal responsibly..
But all in all, I'm okay with this. Hell I'm delighted. The less unwanted children we have running around the better. I, for one, hope they work something that covers abortions too.