Monday, August 1, 2011

GOOD NEWS AMIDST THE BAD

From TPM:
The Obama administration announced on Monday that health insurance plans must cover birth control with no copays, among other reproductive health care services, as preventative care for women. The requirement will apply to health care plans beginning on or after August 1, 2012. The announcement comes just a month after Health and Human Services released a recommendation that sought to expand preventative services for women under Obama's health care law.

In addition to birth control, the expansion will cover breast pumps for nursing mothers, an annual "well-woman" physical, including screening for the virus that causes cervical cancer, HIV, and gestational diabetes, as well as counseling for domestic violence.
Too bad women have to wait a year for the coverage, but better late than never. These policies should not have had to be mandated by the federal government. If not to provide better health care for women, the insurance companies should have seen these policies as in their own self-interests to reduce overall costs in the long haul. Ah, but few business take the long view these days.

6 comments:

  1. At my children's school they've vaccinated all over 13th against the virus that causes cervical cancer. It's caused a lot of public outrage at the time and parents are allowed to withdraw their daughters from the programme, but in economic terms it's cheaper than screening and subsequent treatment.

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  2. Erika, the vaccination is not done in the schools here, but I'm talking it up for my granddaughter through her doctor.

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  3. The costs of this improvement will be spread over those who pay for the insurance, individuals and/or employers. Any large employer who wanted these benefits could have had them whenever they wanted. I think this is a good thing but it's not a free-bee.

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  4. The cost to insurance companies will probably be more than covered by the babies that are not born.

    A 2nd good thing today - Gabby Giffords went to Washington.

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  5. Yes, seconding what PseudoPiskie said: how wonderful it was to see Gabby Giffords on the floor of the House.

    [Great no copays for birth control, too!]

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  6. susankay, not much is free, but don't you think that, over the long term, the vaccinations and the availability of birth control will save money?

    Piskie, I'm no expert, but I agree.

    I saw Gabby on TV. All things considered, she looked good.

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