The Department of Health and Human Services sent out a memo to clear up any “ambiguity” about Obamacare and birth-control mandates, saying to insurers: Yes, you have to provide 18 types of free contraception.
“Today’s guidance seeks to eliminate any ambiguity,” HHS said, the Hill reported. “Insurers must cover without cost-sharing at least one form of contraception in each of the methods (currently 18) that the FDA has identified for women in its current Birth Control Guide, including the ring, the patch and intrauterine devices.”
The agency issued the guidance to clear up misconceptions due to recent reports that provided conflicting advice on birth-control coverage. For instance, the Kaiser Family Foundation said some insurers weren’t providing all 18 forms of birth control for free, while the National Women’s Law Center reported problems with some insurers offering three forms of contraception – the vaginal ring, the patch and an intrauterine device, or IUD – to women for free.
The NWLC also found that insurance companies would “even suggest that a woman switch methods if she does not want any out-of-pocket costs,” the Hill reported.
America’s Health Insurance Plans president Karen Ignagni said: “Today’s guidance takes important steps to support health plans’ use of medical management in providing women with safe, affordable health care services. Health plans are committed to promoting evidenced-based decision-making and to ensuring all consumers understand how their coverage works.”
Due to Obamacare mandates, the 18 types of birth control women can now access for free include: sterilization, surgical sterilization implant, implantable rod, copper intrauterine device, IUDs with progestin, shot, three types of oral contraceptives, the patch, vaginal contraceptive ring, diaphragm, sponge, cervical cap, female condom, spermicide, and two types of emergency contraception.
