Institute of Medicine recommends insurers be required to cover birth control without copays
WASHINGTON — Millions of women may soon gain free access to a broad menu of birth control methods, thanks to a recommendation issued Tuesday by health experts advising the government.
An Institute of Medicine panel recommended that the government require health insurance companies to cover birth control for women as a preventive service, without copayments. Contraception — along with such care as diabetes tests during pregnancy and screening for the virus that causes cervical cancer — was one of eight recommended preventive services for women.
The law already requires most health plans to provide standard preventive care for people of both sexes at no additional charge to patients, but the women's health recommendations were considered so sensitive that the nonpartisan institute was asked to examine the issue and report back. The IOM advises the government on complex issues related to medical science and health care policy.
2 comments:
Free would mean that that don't pay for the insurance. It should read birth control with no Co-Pay.
I've always been puzzled as to why insurance companies will not cover the cost of birth control, but they'll pay virtually all of the costs associtated with the pregnancy and childbirth!
This has been happening for a LONG time. My son is 26 years old and it was that way back then! When I was pregnant with him through his birth, it cost us $400.00 total out of pocket. The medical bills were well over $5,000.00.
Back then, our insurance premiums were only about $300/month for myself and my self employed husband and we had a $250.00 deductible with 100% coverage after the deductible.
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