Control of Birth Control

THE CONTROL OF BIRTH CONTROL When President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, the bill included a requirement that companies cover the cost of FDA-approved contraceptive drugs and services with no charge to employees. The provision became controversial among religious conservatives, forcing Obama to shift responsibility for contraceptive costs to insurance providers when employers object on moral grounds. What is the state of birth control EXPLORING THE DEBATE OVER CONTRACEPTION AND HEALTH CARE coverage in America, and where do people stand on the issue? AMERICANS ARE ALMOST EVENLY SPLIT STATES REQUIRING CONTRACEPTION COVERAGE According to a recent Gallup poll, nearly identical numbers of men and women support covering contraception. Both groups are about evenly split Twenty-eight states include contraceptive drugs and devices in health care coverage. But 20 of those states allow employers and insurance between sympathizing with the Obama administration and with the religious leaders who oppose including contraception in health insurance plans. companies to opt out of the mandate on moral grounds. Based on what you know or have read about the matter, who do you sympathize with more when it comes to the contraception-health care coverage debate? REQUIRES COVERAGE OF CONTRACEPTIVE DRUGS AND DEVICES RELIGIOUS LEADERS OBAMA ADMINISTRATION вотн NO OPINION * ALLOWS EMPLOYERS AND INSURERS TO REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH THE MANDATE 6% 7% MICHIGAN 1% MONTANA WISCONSIN NEW HAMPSHIRE MASSACHUSETTS ILLINOIS MAINE 47% OREGON 49% WOMEN MEN VERMONT IOWA CONNECTICUT 46% 44% NEW YORK RHODE ISLAND NEVADA NEW JERSEY DELAWARE MOST AMERICANS ARE FOLLOWING THE ISSUE CLOSELY Most Americans, whether religious or secular, say they're paying close attention to news about the contraception debate. MARYLAND CALIFORNIA How closely are you following the news about the contraception-health care coverage debate? VERY CLOSELY SOMEWHAT CLOSELY NOT TOO CLOSELY NOT AT ALL NO OPINION NORTH CAROLINA ARIZONA 29% 31% 19% 20% 1% WEST VIRGINIA ALL U.S. ADULTS NEW MEXICO 31% 31%. 16% 22% MISSOURI VIRGINIA CATHOLICS 30% 30% 17% 1% PROTESTANTS HAWAII COLORADO ARKANSAS GEORGIA 26% 27% 16% 31% NO RELIGION 20 40 60 80 100 SOURCES: GALLUP.COM I NYTIMES.COM I WASHINGTONPOST.COM I GUTTMACHER INSTITUTEI U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES I THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES A COLLABORATION BETWEEN GOOD AND COLUMN FIVE