US Congress holds hearing on contraception. Only right-wing moralizers allowed to testify, of course.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/16/contraception-hearing-house-democrats-walk-out_n_1281730.html?1329409256

Anonymous wrote:

The insurance companies are fine with providing free birth control because it is cheaper (and safer) than pregnancy.

It isn't "free." Are you all so dumb as to believe that the insurance companies won't factor these costs in when they are setting premiums. Seriously, get a clue.

Again, and as other "dumb" posters have pointed out, insurance companies *want* you on birth control because it controls costs (i.e. preganancy is expensive). This is also why vasectomies are often 100% covered, even on sub-optimal health plans. Insurance companies don't want you to become pregnant. That's because it's a guaranteed outlay of big cash. The Bishops, on the other hand, want you pregnant as often as possible, because a) they're in a "race" with the Muslims, Mormons, etc, etc..., and b) they need more subscribers in order to keep the ponzi scheme going.

Anonymous wrote:

The insurance companies are fine with providing free birth control because it is cheaper (and safer) than pregnancy.

It isn't "free." Are you all so dumb as to believe that the insurance companies won't factor these costs in when they are setting premiums. Seriously, get a clue.

Just as they will factor in the savings on unwanted and/or dangerous pregnancies, most likely resulting in an overall reduction in costs.

Perhaps you have information showing that the cost of BC is in fact greater than these savings, in which case you can explain that. But just repeating that BC costs money, while ignoring the savings is, a waste of time.

Anonymous wrote:

The insurance companies are fine with providing free birth control because it is cheaper (and safer) than pregnancy.

It isn't "free." Are you all so dumb as to believe that the insurance companies won't factor these costs in when they are setting premiums. Seriously, get a clue.

Are you so dense as not to understand that anyone saying "free" is referring to the out-of-pocket cost to the consumer? I think they all understand that the government does not possess magical powers that make drugs cost nothing.

BTW, this should increase premiums by about $2/month. Oh, no!

The insurance companies are fine with providing free birth control because it is cheaper (and safer) than pregnancy.

It isn't "free." Are you all so dumb as to believe that the insurance companies won't factor these costs in when they are setting premiums. Seriously, get a clue.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why should women get free birth control? Are we going to provide free antibiotics, free insulin, free blood pressure medicine, free Lipitor, free cancer drugs......why free birth control. BTW, there is not such thing as "free" anything. Insurance premiums will be adjusted to account for any loss insurance companies would incur due to "free" birth control. It is all smoke and mirrors.

Why should men get free Viagra?

I don't think that is covered for free. It is not preventive medicine.

Anonymous wrote:Why should men get free Viagra?

I don't know that they do. Certainly not in all insurance programs, and certainly not by government mandate -- although "mandate" would be a fitting name for it.

Anonymous wrote:Why should women get free birth control? Are we going to provide free antibiotics, free insulin, free blood pressure medicine, free Lipitor, free cancer drugs......why free birth control. BTW, there is not such thing as "free" anything. Insurance premiums will be adjusted to account for any loss insurance companies would incur due to "free" birth control. It is all smoke and mirrors.

Why should men get free Viagra?

Right, it's the same reason most health plans provide "free" vasectomies. It saves everyone money down the road--pregnancies are expensive. Society at large ends up subsidizing the prejudices of a few powerful superstitious misogynistic old men.

Anonymous wrote:Why should women get free birth control? Are we going to provide free antibiotics, free insulin, free blood pressure medicine, free Lipitor, free cancer drugs......why free birth control. BTW, there is not such thing as "free" anything. Insurance premiums will be adjusted to account for any loss insurance companies would incur due to "free" birth control. It is all smoke and mirrors.

The insurance companies are fine with providing free birth control because it is cheaper (and safer) than pregnancy.

Preventative care frequently is good for the patient and the insurance co.

Where does it end?

Anonymous wrote:Why should women get free birth control? Are we going to provide free antibiotics, free insulin, free blood pressure medicine, free Lipitor, free cancer drugs......why free birth control. BTW, there is not such thing as "free" anything. Insurance premiums will be adjusted to account for any loss insurance companies would incur due to "free" birth control. It is all smoke and mirrors.

Yes, in fact, the whole reason this came up is that we now provide free access to preventive services. This is the same legislation that made your kids' checkups and immunizations free.

How to really make the martyrs lose their little minds:
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/family/2012/02/postnatal_care_in_france_vagina_exercises_and_video_games.html

Why should women get free birth control? Are we going to provide free antibiotics, free insulin, free blood pressure medicine, free Lipitor, free cancer drugs......why free birth control. BTW, there is not such thing as "free" anything. Insurance premiums will be adjusted to account for any loss insurance companies would incur due to "free" birth control. It is all smoke and mirrors.

Came across this a few moments ago:

I'm sorry but I find the protectors of child rapists preaching to women about contraception to be a moral obscenity. When all the implicated bishops and the Pope resign, ther replacements will have standing to preach.

Fing A. (from Andrew Sullivan)