Sebelius: HHS mandate strikes ‘right balance’ between health, religious concerns
February 07, 2012
Writing in USA Today, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius insisted that the Obama administration is “working to strike the right balance between respecting religious beliefs and increasing women's access to critical preventive health services.”
“Today, virtually all American women use contraception at some point in their lives,” wrote Sebelius, a Catholic. “And we have a large body of medical evidence showing it has significant benefits for their health, as well as the health of their children. But birth control can also be quite expensive, costing an average of $600 a year, which puts it out of reach for many women whose health plans don't cover it. The public health case for making sure insurance covers contraception is clear.”
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Kathleen Sebelius: Contraception rule respects religion (USA Today)
- USA Today editorial decries HHS mandate (CWN, 2/6)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: TheJournalist64 -
Feb. 07, 2012 8:30 PM ET USA
Pregnancy is NOT a disease. Contraception prevents nothing but life.
-
Posted by: Mirabilis -
Feb. 07, 2012 9:12 AM ET USA
Hmm...would natural family planning classes be covered under this "no-cost mandate"? Somehow I doubt it. And yet NFP is as effective at avoiding pregnancy as the most effective contraception, is the only truly safe method for spacing children, and is virtually cost-free for life once it is learned. Perhaps we should mandate NFP education for all Americans! Oh wait, that might offend the hookup culture.
