American National Government - Essay Example

Political Science - American National Government - Reflection Paper Recent legislation has required that insurance companies be required to cover contraceptives as part of preventative health care services. The 2010 law provides that these must be provided at no charge to the individual with an exemption clause for certain religious employers, though companies and critics have complained that the clause is so narrow as to be virtually useless. Religious employers are unable to qualify for the exemption if they employee a large number of people or provide services to a large number of people that are of a different faith (Pear). Requirements not only include birth control but also states that insurance companies must provide coverage for sterilization procedures for both men and women. These provisions have been called an unprecedented attack on religious liberty by the Catholic Church and a very large stand has been taken against this fairly new law by the religious community. House Speaker John Boehner stated that the provisions ‘violate our constitution,’ (Lothian). Harsh criticism encouraged a second look at the act though the need to provide women with these health care services has thus far been stronger than the opposition faced by the Church. The White House has been instead trying to focus more on the religious groups and populations who have endorsed the law. In January administration decided to allow an extra year for insurance companies to come into compliance with the preventative services policy, this was offered as some middle ground decided instead of rewriting or repealing the law. More time was granted in essence to maintain some balance between religious freedom and increasing the preventative services coverage that women strongly need. The Centers for Disease Control reported that nearly half of all pregnancies are unwanted (Insurance…) and that 64% of women rely primarily on employer based health insurance coverage. Other items included that must be covered that have met with no difficulty include breast pumps, annual physicals, counseling and cervical cancer screening. The requirement was originally scheduled to take effect in January of 2013 though with the new extension it will be 2014. Some goals of this action include reducing and preventing unwanted pregnancy and also increasing the amount of women whose pregnancies are at least 18 months apart, which reduces risks such as prematurity, low birth weight and autism. The plan also provides for coverage for the controversial morning after pill, which is classified as contraceptives though most feel that it is an abortion pill. Some of those who have refused to cover birth control in the past include Catholic colleges and Universities, feeling it is a violation of their beliefs and long held culture within the Catholic Church. Though this is a very controversial tenet within the Catholic Church and the issue of birth control has been strongly debated for many years within the Church, the need for these health care measures outweighed the thought that this law could impose upon religious freedom. Long standing tradition within the Catholic Church not only refuses to support birth control or the use of it but now refuses to accept laws stating that birth control must be covered by Catholic organizations or companies. Legislators have argued that because the insurance companies aren’t individuals and are corporations providing birth control coverage the law is not against religious freedom and beliefs. Corporations and religious organizations in opposition argue that the new law being forced upon them will cause them to be required to offer benefits and coverage that goes against their corporate mission and vision, in maintaining religious belief while also conducting business. Some arguments that have been made in defense of the contraceptive coverage is the fact that drugs related to impotence treatment have been covered by insurance companies with no questions asked, which most feel is not a significant health threat though these medications are sometimes used to treat other conditions as well. Arguments also state that erectile dysfunction is a medical condition while pregnancy is not exactly considered a condition. The Vatican has issued strong statements against the contraceptive law though it has been pointed out that the Vatican and the Catholic Bishops and other authorities are primarily male. Most Catholics now reject the Catholic teaching against contraception and it is estimated that 90% of Catholic married couples now use contraception (Soko). Pro-life groups within the Church also argue against contraceptives, believing that life is created at the moment of conception and that any interference of this constitutes abortion. The provision is not forcing those with religious beliefs to begin using contraceptives and individuals who are already using contraceptives with no coverage will now have access should they need it. I agree with some of the Vatican’s arguments in that what the insurance companies cover and refuse to cover is a direct reflection of their company mission and values though because there is such a large percent of the population that is Catholic already using birth control then I believe that it is a minority of those in positions of authority who are against the law. Public policy and religion have frequently clashed in the past over similar women’s issues, namely abortion, and this issue seems to have just as powerful opposition, though the major power represents a minority. The Catholic Church has the financial ability to play a large role in opposing and appealing this law with many lobbyists and legislatives already supporting them, at least publicly while there is no voting that must be completed. In contrast Planned Parenthood is launching a new media campaign praising the action by Obama in the effort to improve health care issues related to women and minority groups. Planned Parenthood states that birth control is nearly universal, dismissing Catholic claims that it is a religious imposition (Dwyer). The Bishop of Phoenix reacted stating the Catholic community ‘cannot and will not comply with the unjust law.’ It would be better were administration able to avoid forcing these religious insurance companies to provide coverage for contraceptives and developing an alternative plan, such as insurance companies that are refusing to provide coverage under their own umbrella of company policy offering coverage under a secondary method. This could be something developed and established outside of their everyday practice, specifically for the purpose of covering only contraceptives, which would not need to operate under the same mission, value, or vision as the parent company. A Discount plan could also be developed between these religious organizations and certain contraceptive companies were by employees were given a discount card which enabled them to get their contraceptives filled all year with a different name then the insurance company which is morally against birth control practice. Though many years ago it was very uncommon for there to be a method of birth control available, today the majority of women are on some form of birth control. With teenage and unwanted pregnancy come risks and difficulties that will cost these insurance companies large amounts of money versus the cost of the birth control so most companies have not used this in their attempts to be persuasive with their arguments against the new law, though a small handful have used this argument. While it is impossible to know what the next year will bring it is likely we will see this brought up at least a few more times and possibly overturned if organizations claim this to be unconstitutional, there is plenty of time before it is required to be implanted and there are a lot of possibilities between now and then. Works Cited Pear, Robert. "Democrats Urge Obama to Protect Contraceptive Coverage in Health Plans." The New York Times. 19 Nov. 2011. Web. 3 Feb. 2012. . Lothian, Dan. "Contraceptive Coverage Controversy – The 1600 Report - CNN.com Blogs." The 1600 Report - CNN.com Blogs. 2 Feb. 2012. Web. 03 Feb. 2012. . "Insurance Coverage for Contraception State Laws." NCSL Home. Aug. 2011. Web. 03 Feb. 2012. . Soko, Keith. "Which Catholics Are against Contraception Coverage?" National Catholic Reporter. Feb. 2012. Web. 03 Feb. 2012. . Dwyer, Devin. "Planned Parenthood Defends Obama Against Catholic Criticism." ABC News. 1 Feb. 2012. Web. 3 Feb. 2012. . Read More