While some businesses are fighting it on religious grounds, the majority support free birth control on health plans.
Nearly one in seven Americans support the mandate that health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) must provide birth control, according to a nationwide survey. Researchers from the University of Michigan asked adults from all 50 states and the District of Columbia about universal coverage for birth control, which is being challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court.
There has been an ongoing debate over the provision of birth control on plans available through Obamacare. The provision for free birth control under most health plans has been available since 2012. The greatest support for contraception came from women, blacks, Hispanics, adults with private or public insurance, and parents with children younger than 18 at home, according to the study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
“In this study, women, blacks, and Hispanics were more likely to support coverage of birth control medications than were men, older individuals and adults without children in the home,” study author Dr. Michelle Moniz, a researcher at the University of Michigan Medical School, said in a university news release.
“Our study found that 69 percent of U.S. adults support requiring coverage of birth control in health plans. This indicates that the majority view in the United States is that coverage for contraceptives should be required,” she added.
Respondents were also asked their opinion on mandated coverage for other medical services. There were high levels of support for colonoscopies and mammograms (85%), vaccinations (84%), screening tests for diabetes and high cholesterol (82%), mental health care (77%), and dental treatment (75%).
Less than 10 percent of people questioned supported compulsory coverage for all services except birth control. This figure included a high percentage of men, people over 60, and those without children in the home.
“In other words, support is higher among individuals who may be more likely to directly benefit from affordable birth control,” said Dr. Moniz.
“This isn’t only a women’s health issue. It’s an issue that is just as important to families and communities,” she added. “Our findings suggest that a policy requiring all health insurance plans to cover birth control medications is consistent with the beliefs of the majority of Americans.”
The U.S. Supreme Court is currently reviewing the arguments of businesses and organisations which say the provision of birth control is against their religious beliefs.
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Image: Different kinds of birth control pills by Ceridwen (CC BY-SA 2.0 FR)