Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Contraceptive Equity Bill Urged
A Friend's Letter to the Editor: Evening Sun, Hanover, PA
(Reprinted with permission of letter writer)
Editor:
On March 28, 2005, the Pennsylvania General Assembly took steps to empower women and strengthen families by introducing the "Prescription Contraception Equity Act." Out of pocket expenses for healthcare are more than 68 percent higher for women than men. Not only is this discriminatory, but inflicts an unnecessary burden on family stability.
This bill not only seeks to provide coverage of contraception, but also provides counseling services for effective use. While it is understood that abstinence is the only foolproof way to avoid unexpected pregnancies, little is common knowledge on the issue of contraception fail rates and potential causes. For example, if a woman has been taking an antibiotic, for perhaps a sinus infection, the antibiotic can render birth control pills ineffective.
With an ever skyrocketing divorce rate, financial insecurity is consistently listed as one of the chief causes for dissolution of marriage. Families, struggling to make ends meet, often work multiple jobs just to get by. An unplanned pregnancy or excessive medical bills can be enough to upset the delicate balance for families that are teetering on the brink of financial ruin. Nationally each year, more than 3,000,000 unintended pregnancies occur. While it is understandable that for reasons of faith, some families will choose not to use contraception, the option should be available to those families that wish to be proactive on this issue. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management reported no additional cost had been incurred from adding this coverage to federal employees health benefits.
Reducing unintended pregnancies would benefit women's health and well-being, and decrease infant mortality. Additionally, the reduction of unplanned pregnancies would drastically diminish the demand for the heartrending practice of abortion, which is currently covered by most insurance companies. Please urge state senators and representatives to support this innovative bill.
Nicole Seidel
Gettysburg
(Reprinted with permission of letter writer)
Editor:
On March 28, 2005, the Pennsylvania General Assembly took steps to empower women and strengthen families by introducing the "Prescription Contraception Equity Act." Out of pocket expenses for healthcare are more than 68 percent higher for women than men. Not only is this discriminatory, but inflicts an unnecessary burden on family stability.
This bill not only seeks to provide coverage of contraception, but also provides counseling services for effective use. While it is understood that abstinence is the only foolproof way to avoid unexpected pregnancies, little is common knowledge on the issue of contraception fail rates and potential causes. For example, if a woman has been taking an antibiotic, for perhaps a sinus infection, the antibiotic can render birth control pills ineffective.
With an ever skyrocketing divorce rate, financial insecurity is consistently listed as one of the chief causes for dissolution of marriage. Families, struggling to make ends meet, often work multiple jobs just to get by. An unplanned pregnancy or excessive medical bills can be enough to upset the delicate balance for families that are teetering on the brink of financial ruin. Nationally each year, more than 3,000,000 unintended pregnancies occur. While it is understandable that for reasons of faith, some families will choose not to use contraception, the option should be available to those families that wish to be proactive on this issue. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management reported no additional cost had been incurred from adding this coverage to federal employees health benefits.
Reducing unintended pregnancies would benefit women's health and well-being, and decrease infant mortality. Additionally, the reduction of unplanned pregnancies would drastically diminish the demand for the heartrending practice of abortion, which is currently covered by most insurance companies. Please urge state senators and representatives to support this innovative bill.
Nicole Seidel
Gettysburg
