Birth Control, The Magic Pill

In a recent blog article titled “Contraception Should Be Covered by Insurance” the author of the blog describes why contraception should be covered by insurance. The author starts by stating that birth control helps prevent unwanted pregnancies but it can also help with PMS, acne, endometriosis, and hormone imbalances. I have to agree with the author on these facts about birth control, but as the author expands on reasons why it should be covered, I quickly see that that our opinions are different.

One opinion of the article states “Many women’s dreams now include education and a career. Birth control gives them that choice. In doing so it also helps the economy. If a young woman is in college working on her education and becomes pregnant before graduating, she is most likely in debt and now doesn’t have the option to start her career”. I can’t agree that birth control gives women the opportunity for an education and a career, nor does the author give data justifying such claims. I do understand that the birth of a child, especially for a college student can be a major challenge but numerous women have successfully graduated and started a career after childbirth.

I feel as though the article leans too much on the powers of birth control and its ability to keep a women’s life from ruin. Birth control is simply a prevention drug, it doesn’t give women the power to do great things. The article on the other hand doesn’t address the fact that birth control doesn’t prevent things like STD’s, which as we all know could be way worse than pregnancy. I also feel like people have a false security in birth control and forget that it isn’t 100% prevention. Birth control should be viewed as an aid to good judgment and safe practices.

The main point of the blog is to prove that contraception should be covered by insurance.  I can’t agree with some of the reasons listed by the author, but I do agree that contraception should be covered by insurance. As a young couple on a fixed budget my wife and I faced the fact that her birth control wasn’t covered. Each month we paid over $40 for her prescription and it made things very tough at times, so I understand the need for it to be covered. I know that with the possibility of defunding of Planned Parenthood and repeal of the Obamacare, there is fear placed in women that depend on their services. My hope is that government and insurance companies with continue to cover birth control.