Group cheers Obama birth-control mandate

{mosads}“As new healthcare plans come under the reach of the Women’s Preventive Services Act, many more women will gain access to the essential care they need. New mothers will no longer have to forgo counseling about nursing their babies because they can’t afford it. Women will no longer have to choose between the safest and most effective contraceptive method for them and one that may be less expensive. Other preventive healthcare, like HIV and domestic partner screening, will no longer be out of reach,” said NWLC Co-President Marcia Greenberger.

President Obama’s healthcare law emphasized preventive services as a means to improve the health of U.S. citizens and lower costs.

To do this, the law mandated that most health plans cover a range of services without cost-sharing, including blood pressure screenings, tobacco use interventions and some immunizations for adults, and a variety of services for children.

Most women will see the birth-control benefit take effect now, as insurers update plans for 2013. The policy technically had force as of Aug. 1, 2012. 

Read more about legal challenges to the mandate at Healthwatch.