1 Free Birth Control, Anyone?

Recently, there has been a big controversy over one of President Obamas newest mandates. He wants to make a policy that will require insurance companies to provide free birth control for companies employees. Birth control, or contraception, includes several means as which to prevent fertilization. This is a big controversy because there are many people for this mandate, and also against it. Supporters say that providing free health care will make it easier and more affordable for women to obtain the method of birth control that is most effective and appropriate for them, resulting in fewer unintended pregnancies and abortions, (Birth Control Funding). Yet, the critics say that providing free contraceptives wont diminish abortions and that women already have access to birth control, so this policy will just charge taxpayers money. I, for one, am against this policy, not only because I am Catholic, although it mainly affects us, but because it also goes against the religion of many Christians and other religious groups. Although employees of churches and other places of worship arent required to be a part of the mandate, it covers the employees of hospitals, universities, and other groups that are connected to other religious groups that serve the public and hire people of different faiths (Birth Control and Reproductive Rights). One of the arguments for the supporters of this policy states that providing contraceptives will reduce the amount of abortions, yet using birth control can also be viewed as having an abortion. It prevents what could have been a new life to not exist at all. Smith says that some contraceptives cause early term abortions. Smith also says that a certain contraceptive *prevents+ a fertilized egg a new little human being from implanting in the uterine wall. *and it+ does not always stop ovulation but sometimes prevents implantation of the growing embryo. In fact, the word abortion is a synonym for birth control (Birth Control). Some supporters of Obamas contraception mandate dont see birth control as a type of abortion at all. They argue that birth control will decrease the number of unplanned pregnancies, which

2 it most likely will happen. They also say that having contraceptives provided for them will help them financially. Women who use birth control will have to pay over $1,000 for a whole year. Certain types of contraceptives have other uses rather than family planning. The contraceptives which include hormones can prevent things, like anemia, decrease cancer risk, lessen periods, and even osteoporosis (Birth Control Funding). So, paying over a thousand dollars for something that can actually help them seems like a bit too much money. Birth control also gives women with certain medical conditions that could worsen when pregnant a chance to plan to get pregnant when they are healthy enough to have a baby; it could even give women the chance to stop any unhealthy activities before bearing a child Others, from Birth Control Funding, say that, if women are able to plan their pregnancies by way of using contraceptives, they may have a higher chance of finishing their education or career opportunities. Providing contraceptives may also help couple who are struggling financially. Birth control can help these couples to postpone having a family until financially stable, or help them stop having children when they feel as if their family is whole (Birth Control Funding). Also, if this contraception policy isnt approved, supporters believe that, when it comes to planning their family, that they are on their own. They want to change that. Sure, getting free contraceptives would be a huge achievement in the eyes of the supporters of this mandate, but actually thinking that it will be free is ridiculous. Nothing is free. No matter what it is, we have paid for it somehow, in one way or another. To help cover the cost of these so-called free contraceptives, insurance costs will most likely rise for everyone else so that they will still be able to make some profit. If this policy gets passed, then supporters, critics, and people who dont even care about this controversy will have to pay more insurance. Having this policy approved will just add to a long list of things that we disapprove of by way of taxes or health insurance. As stated earlier, the use of birth control can help women with some medical issues. If birth control were to be provided for free or at a lesser price, it should be for women who have medical issues that can be resolved with

3 contraception and get it prescribed by a doctor. Supporters of this policy complain about how expensive birth control is even though there are probably cheaper options available. If these supporters want contraception so badly, they can find a way to get it by using the money from their own pocket rather than making all of America pitch in. It seems that people see birth control as a way to prevent pregnancy as though it was some sort of illness. They dont want to catch being pregnant, so they do everything that usually leads to pregnancy and then take meds to make sure they dont, like someone hanging around sick people, who are contagious, and then taking shots and various medication to prevent getting infected. The birth control policy is a big controversy. Yes, it would be beneficial for women who can solve their medical problems by use of the pill, but we should just limit these free contraceptives to them with a prescription from their doctor. Otherwise, providing birth control for all wouldnt be such a good idea. It goes against the religion of some, such as Catholics and other Christians. Approving this mandate would also result in higher taxes for every American because insurance companies still have to make a profit from proving birth control. Pregnancy is not an illness that you can cure, nor is it something that people should try to prevent. Bearing a child is to create a new life which shouldnt be thrown away.

4 Works Cited Birth Control. Thesaurus. Dictionary.com, 2012. Web. 1 Apr. 2012. Birth Control and Reproductive Rights. New York Times. 30 Jan. 2012. n.pag. Academic One File. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. Birth Control Funding. Issues and Controversies. 14 Nov. 2011: n.pag.FACTS.com. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. Smith, Janet. The Connection Between Contraception and Abortion. GoodMorals. Janet Smith, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2012.

5 Sources

A Contraceptives Risks. New York Times. 13 Oct. 2011: n.pag. Academic One File. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. A New Battle Over Contraception. 6 Nov. 2011: n.pag. Academic One File. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. Babington, Charles. Abortion, Birth Control Grab Political Spotlight. Associated Press Archive. 7 Feb. 2012: n.pag. Birth Control and Reproductive Rights. New York Times. 30 Jan. 2012: n.pag. Academic One File. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. News Bank. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. Birth Control Funding. Issues and Controversies. 14 Nov. 2011: n.pag.FACTS.com. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. Contraceptive Use. New York Times. 25 Feb. 2012: n.pag. Academic OneFile. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. Cullins, Vanessa. Make Birth Control Affordable. CQ Researcher. 19 Jul. 2011: n.pag. CQ Researcher Online. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. McCarty, Kent. Catholics, Cough Drops and the War on Contraception. The Dysfunction Junction. Word Press, 12 Feb. 2012. Web. 29 Mar. 2012. Obama Birth-Control Mandate, The. CSMonitor. The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Feb. 2012. Web. 29 Mar. 2012. Obama Mandates Insurance Companies Provide Birth Control Free. The Right Scoop. The Right Scoop, 10 Feb. 2012. Web. 29 Mar. 2012. Shea, John B. Birth Control Results in More Abortions. Opposing Viewpoints: Birth Control. Ed. Beth Rosenthal. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 29 Mar. 2012. Smith, Janet. The Connection Between Contraception and Abortion. GoodMorals. Janet Smith, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2012.