The Biden administration announced a significant expansion of contraception access under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). A new rule will require insurance companies to cover over-the-counter (OTC) contraceptives without a prescription or additional costs. The administration introduced this measure in response to the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, aiming to improve reproductive healthcare.
Details of the New Rule
This rule mandates that insurers must cover one contraceptive drug per category, such as oral contraception or implants, at no cost to consumers. The coverage also includes OTC contraceptives like condoms and emergency contraception without requiring a prescription. The White House hailed this change as the largest expansion of contraception access in over a decade.
Catholic Church’s Opposition
The Catholic Church remains firmly opposed to artificial contraception. Citing moral reasons, the Church considers contraception as “intrinsically evil,” a stance reiterated in Pope Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae. The Church advocates for natural family planning methods, viewing them as the only morally acceptable form of birth regulation.
Religious and Legal Challenges
OTC contraception also faces opposition from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), who argue that it poses health risks to women, especially without medical supervision. Legal battles, like the case of the Little Sisters of the Poor, highlight ongoing challenges religious organizations face regarding contraception mandates.
Source:
Biden Administration to Mandate Insurance Coverage of Over-the-Counter Contraceptives
Photo by Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition on Unsplash
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