One of the best things about working in reproductive health is feeling that you’re making a positive difference in the lives of women and their families. This has been especially evident to me recently as I’ve read stories at www.thepillispersonal.com. Launched by Planned Parenthood in honor of the 50^th anniversary of The Pill, this website documents the profound, life-changing effect that the ability to control whether and when to become a parent has on women’s lives.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, 98% of women will use some method of contraception in her life and will spend the vast majority of her reproductive years trying NOT to become pregnant. It cannot be denied that birth control and family planning services are part of very basic health care for women.

Reading the personal stories collected on The Pill is Personal, it is painful to imagine a woman who has her reproductive options diminished or eliminated simply due to inability to pay. Yet this is the case for many women, particularly in this difficult economy. Birth control co-pays even for woman with insurance can run 30, 40 or even 50 dollars every month.

But this could soon change. The recent, historic health care reform legislation offers one of the biggest opportunities to advance women’s health in 45 years. The law requires that health plans fully cover services that are preventive in nature with no co-pay.

We know that prescription birth control is basic, preventive health care for women. Now it’s time to make sure the Obama Administration knows it, too. In the next year, federal officials will decide how elements of this legislation will be implemented including whether or no birth control will be covered as “preventive” and will therefore not require a co-pay.

Join our Birth Control is Prevention campaign (http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/bcisprevention) to ensure that contraception is covered with no cost-sharing! Then add your personal story to www.thepillispersonal.com to spread the word that birth control is essential to women’s health.

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