Contraceptive Coverage on the Health Policy - Research Paper Example

The paper "Contraceptive Coverage on the Health Policy" is an exceptional example of a research paper on health sciences and medicine. The effects of adding contraceptive coverage on the employer-based health policy for women between the ages of 18-44 yearsMost employed women belong to the highly active reproductive age. Therefore, they are typically faced with medical issues related to the lack of contraceptive use. This impact on the insurance covered by employers. Therefore, it is critical that employers consider adding contraceptive coverage on the health plan costs for women (Sobel & Stitzel, 1998). In the U. S, most employers have been mandated to provide insurance coverage plans for reversible medical contraceptives.

It is not only expected to increase access but also the provision of contraceptives in an even-handed way. Women would get a selection method that is more balanced and most appropriate for their needs and preferences regardless of the cost (Abma et al., 1997). Approach A lot of controversial perspectives have arisen in relation to the need for employers to cover contraceptive costs. Thus, the rate at which both employers and women employees would save and spend more were assessed. This exercise would highlight how much saving can be obtained by the employee and the women.

It would be attained through the performance of a comparison between the costs before the contraceptive coverage and that likely to be incurred after coverage. They would include maternity charges and abortions for unintended pregnancy. It would be compared against the extra contraceptive cover costs. From a study performed by the Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI) (1994), it was found that the employers would need to add $ 21.40 to the insurance premiums. It comprises employer costs of $ 17.12 and employee costs of $ 4.28. However, owing to the unique payment of the contraceptive fund, it is quite difficult to estimate the estimated cost of reliable coverage (Henshaw, 1998).

Results It is found that in order for the full range, coverage of reversible medical contraceptives to be attained in health plans that do not cover them currently, the costs for both the employees and their dependents will increase. It will need to be covered by both the employers and employees as shown in table 1 below. 2. Thus, adding contraceptive coverage will decrease healthcare costs by $ 24 per women between 18 and 44 per year. The employer will save 1.5%. Number of Pregnant Women 500 Before coverage500 women pregnant No of unintended Pregnancies 185Percentage 37%Total Cost 12879x185=$2382615 After Coverage 500 women pregnantNo of unintended Pregnancies 168Percentage 33.

5%Total Cost 168x8827=$1478522 Employer’s savings= 2382615-1478522.5==$904,092 Assumptions and limitations It is assumed that with the full range coverage of contraceptives, women employees will be able to access the most appropriate contraceptive depending on their needs irrespective of their cost. As such, they will reduce the need to seek healthcare based on medical issues that arise owing to the lack of use of contraceptives. The added costs amount to $ 1.43 per month, which indicates less than a 1.

5 % increase in the employer’s cost. In this way, employers will save on the costs on standard healthcare insurance coverage (Laundry & Forrest, 1996). Conclusion Employees would benefit from this coverage since they will be able to reduce the Medicaid expenses caused by the lack of use of contraception by 1.5%. The rate of pregnancies dropped by about 3.5% and the cost by about $3 per person. The saving rate thus takes place in the ratio of 3:1.