In a new round-up of private sector and public sector research, Guttmacher Institute dispels the myths surrounding the cost to businesses of insurance coverage for contraception. “Providing comprehensive coverage of contraceptive methods and services is not only sound public health policy,” Guttmacher states, “but also a savvy business decision.”
Guttmacher counters claims that covering contraception costs corporations. The evidence strongly suggests that the cost of covering all methods of contraception is outweighed by the savings accrued from preventing unplanned pregnancies. The one-year cost of contraceptives ranges from $100 to $600, while the cost of prenatal care, delivery, and newborn care can cost $20,000 or more. Previous research by Guttmacher also found that public funding for contraceptive services in 2010 led to public savings of $10.5 billion.
Having insurance coverage for contraception also increases worker productivity and encourages better use. Women without insurance who do not like their form of contraception but are stuck with it are more likely to use it inconsistently or incorrectly. Having insurance allows them to choose the best method for them.
“Removing cost as a barrier to use can significantly improve the effectiveness of contraceptive use by allowing women to pick the method that is best suited for their particular needs and circumstances – especially when it comes to highly effective methods like the IUD and implant that have high upfront costs,” Guttmacher states.
Currently, 30 million women have access to birth control without co-pays or deductibles because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). However, the Supreme Court ruled in Hobby Lobby v. Burwell that “closely-held” corporations could not be required to provide health insurance coverage for methods of contraception that violate the corporation’s sincerely held religious beliefs. A bill to reverse this decision failed in the Senate Wednesday.
Media Resources: Guttmacher Institute 7/16/14; Feminist Newswire 7/1/14, 7/17/14
