No-cost birth control a benefit for women

In July, the Department of Health and Human Services made history when it categorized birth control as a preventative medication, therefore requiring insurance companies to cover 100 percent of the cost, with no co-pay.

This comes as a result of the Affordable Care Act requiring that any medication classified as preventative be covered 100 percent by insurance companies. As a board member for NARAL Pro-Choice Montana, I couldn’t be more pleased with this decision, which comes after months of hard work and activism across the country.

No-cost birth control will ensure that every woman has access to the type of birth control that best suits her needs. Women will no longer be faced with difficult decisions like paying for birth control or their education, or putting food on the table. Every woman will have the means available to ensure that she is able to prevent an unintended pregnancy.

Montanans understand the positive impact and value that birth control has on women’s ability to be self-sufficient. Montana is one of only a handful of states with contraceptive equity — meaning insurance companies must cover contraception — and gender neutral insurance laws, which require insurance companies to exclude consideration of gender when setting premiums.

As a nurse, I understand that health promotion and illness prevention are basics of public health. Gynecologic services are frequently a woman’s entrance to primary care. This sets the stage for ongoing screening and preventive services throughout her life. Screening and early intervention are tools to prevent complications of chronic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes. Prevention of complications, which require expensive treatment, is one real tool for decreasing costs of health care. Montanans can all agree that decreasing costs and preventing complications are good goals.

Teresa Henry is a nurse and a board member of NARAL Pro-Choice Montana.