The majority of U.S. adults believe that health insurance companies should be required to cover the full cost of birth control for women, just as they do for other preventive services, according to a new survey commissioned by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.
Most Democrats (86 percent) and Independents (67 percent) believe health insurers should be required to cover birth control, but Republicans are divided between those who feel insurance should (48 percent) and should not (48 percent) face this requirement.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care has mandated insurance companies do just that, but it hasn't been without controversy. Religious organizations have said any employer should be able to exclude contraception from workers' health plans because of his or her religious beliefs.
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The mandate went into effect Aug. 1. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius praised the requirement as a win for women.
"President Obama is moving our country forward by giving women control over their health care," Sebelius said. "This law puts women and their doctors, not insurance companies or the government, in charge of health care decisions."
"Removing cost as a barrier and helping women choose from the full range of contraceptives available, including the most effective ones, leads to dramatic declines in unplanned pregnancy and abortions," says Sarah Brown, CEO of The National Campaign. "The magic combination of responsible public and private policies and responsible behavior on the part of men and women can make all the difference in helping reduce unplanned pregnancy and improving the education and employment prospects of women and their families."
The survey also found that more than 81 percent of Americans think the government should continue to help women who cannot afford birth control. The notion is more popular amongst Democrats (91 percent) and Independents (80 percent) than Republicans (66 percent).
Half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned—about 3 million each year—and three-quarters of unplanned pregnancies are to women 29 and younger, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy says. Economically speaking, taxpayers spend about $12 billion annually on unplanned pregnancy, according to the Brookings Institution.
For the most part, despite party affiliation, most Americans say birth control is a form of personal responsibility.
The telephone survey of 1,029 adults was conducted Oct. 10-14 by Social Science Research Solutions, an independent company.
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